THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


The  daisie  or  els  the  eye  of  the  daie, 
The  emprise  and  the  floure  of  flouris  all. 

Chaucer. 


The  daisies, 
Sing  their  praises ; 
Friendship  with  the  flowers  some  noble  thought  begets. 

Ed-ward  Void. 


I  sing  in  March  brief  bluebird  lays, 

And  hope  a  May,  and  do  not  know : 

May  be,  the  heaven  is  full  of  snow,-— 
May  be,  there  open  summer  days. 

W>  D.  Ho-welh. 


Go,  my  book,  and  some  one,  here  and  there,  when  he  closes 
Your  leave?  may  no  scoff  at  my  poor  hardship  fling', 

For  the  daisy  we  love,  though  the  summer  has  roses ; 
We  swallows  may  twitter,  though  nightingales  sing. 

W.  C.  Bennett. 


Happy,  happy  daisies  f 

Would  I  were  like  you, 
Pure  from  human  praises,. 
Fresh  with  morning  dew, 
And  ever  in  my  heart  to  heaven's  clear  sunshine  true  ! 

Rose  Terry!. 

There  was  a  meadow  where,  in  days  of  old, 
I  lov'd  to  gather  wild  and  simple  flowers  — 

The  snow-white  daisies  and  the  cups  of  gold 
Were  then  to  me  the  richest  of  all  dowers; 

There  did  I  pass  full  many  a  summer's  day. 

John  Bolt  on  Rogersoi^ 

Recall  the  days  of  childhood's  easy  grace, 

When  daisies  fine  were  found  in  all  the  place 

Where  willing  feet  so  loved  in  sport  to  stray, 

And  spend  the  hours  that  fill  a  Summer's  day : 

Recall  the  happy  quest  from  field  to  field 

For  such  fair  flowers  that  Nature 's  sure  to  yield, 

And  see  the  daisies  chief  and  best  of  all 

The  dearest  flowers  the  child  his  own  can  call ; 

And  tell  again  the  perfect  joy  we  had 

To  take  them  home  and  show  companions  glaiTr — 

Our  friends,  whose  talk  made  music  of  the  tale, 

Of  how  the  gifts  were  won  from  hill  and  dale  : 

That  was  the  witching  hour  of  bliss  supreme, 

The  rosy-colored  dawn  of  life's  young  dream ! 

Now  see  the  youth  apace  in  pastures  new, 

Where  daisies'  white-eyed  thoughts  are  wet  with  dew, 

And  see  his  busy  fingers  ply  their  skill 

To  cull  these  chosen  gems  of  vale  and  hill  ; 

No  nook  of  earth,  no  hedgerow  green  and  fair, 

But  sees  his  simple  wildlings  nestling  there  ; 

Swift  pass  the  hours  in  pleasures  pure  and  long, 

To  purple  with  their  haze  his  tell-tale  song  : 

Returning  now  with  trophies  such  as  these, 

He  seeks  with  simple  things  your  love  to  please, 

And  trusts  your  kindly  eye  will  deem  them  gay, 

As  he  presents  his  poor  but  best  display  ; 

They  bloomed  for  him  in  regions  rich  and  wild, 

Their  history  hear  and  glad  the  poet-child  t 


WILLIAM    BRUNTON, 


'"Wee,  modest,  crimson-tipped  flowers,''' 
The  pet  of  poets  fair  and  strong, 
The  charm  of  Chaucer's  virgin  song, 

Enrich  and  aid  me  with  your  powers ! 

In  every  walk  ye  grow  and  shine, 
And  fill  the  fields  as  stars  above, 
But  nearer  bless  us  with  your  love, — 

So  grace  and  bless  these  words  of  mine! 

Bespeak  for  me  with  your  still  voice, 
The  same  respect  that  men  have  shown 
Your  humble  weeds  wherever  grown. 

And  I  will  thank  you  and  rejoice  ! 


BOSTON: 
LEE  AND    SHEPARD,    PUBLISHERS. 

NEW  YORK  : 

CHARLES    T.    DILLINGHA.M. 
1879. 


COPYRIGHT,  1878, 


WILLIAM    BRUNTON. 


Brighton  :  Printed  by  Jolin  Adams. 


CONTENTS. 


Why Page  7 


PART  I.— LOVE. 


The  Call Page  10 

The  Response 1 1 

Praise  Not  the  Past  Alone 12 

Love 13 

Idle  Tales  Prevent  Not  Love  ...  14 

Love  Will  Choose 15 

Love  Knows  Not  Time  or  Space . .    16 

The  Village  Maiden 17 

The  Exchange 18 

The  Request 19 

I  Am  Thine 20 

Thou  Art  Mine 21 

Marriage 22 

Our  Wedding  Day 23 

ILoveButThee 24 

More  Love 25 

Remembrances 26 

Possession.  .  A  Gift  of  Flowers  .   .  28 

Absence  .  How  We  Shall  Meet 29 

Thy  Portrait  .  A  Treasured  Mem 
ory 30 

The  New  Moon  .  Mock  Marriage  .  31 

My  Love  is  False 32 

Secrets 33 

Love  Can  Fade  .  Distrust 34 

True  Love  Cannot  Die 35 

6233 


Dark  Days  and  Bright Page  36 

Will  Wedded  Love  Remain 38 

My  Wife  and  I 4O 

The  Wife's  Appeal 42 

I  Come  to  Thee 44 

I  would  not  Strike  thee,  Love,  with 

Flowers 46 

I  Dreamt  Thy  Love  Was  True  i  n 

Heaven 47 

Thou  Shalt  be  Free 48 

To  Her  Husband  in  Prison 49 

I  Thought  of  Thee 50 

0  Think  of  me  as  at  my  Best 52 

1  Love  Thee 54 

Dear  and  More  Dear 56 

After  a  Ball 58 

'Tis  never  Winter  in  the  Heart 60 

Love  to  the  Loved 61 

Goodbye 64 


PART  II.  — LIFE. 

I  bless  Thee,  Father,  that  I  live 66 

The  Way  of  Life 68 

Lean  on  Yourself 69 

Life's  Best  .  The  Worth  of  Life . .   70 

Life's  Purpose  .  Noble  Lives 71 

If  We. ...If  But 72 

Resolve 73 

Dream  and  Loss  of  Dream 74 

My  Life  and  1 76 

The  Sadness  of  Life's  Changes ....  78 


My  Birthday Page  80 

Childless  .  Something  to  live  for  82 

Little  Children 83 

A  blessing  for  Baby 84 

To  our  Firstborn 86 

I  knew  an  Angel  Child 88 

A  Woman's  Wisdom 89 

The  Canary's  Escape 90 

Fairies 92 

A  Mother's  Prayer 93 

A  Noble  Man  can  always  Die  ....  94 
Help  the  Man  that  seeks  the  Right  95 

Prepare  Me,  God 96 

'Tis  easy  Blaming  those  who  err. . .  97 

The  World's  Charity 98 

A  word  of  Cheer 99 

O,  let  us  smile  our  Tears  away 100 

Let  not  your  Hope  be  dead 101 

The  Dawning  Day 102 

The  smile  of  Heaven  is  meant 

for  All 104 

All's  for  the  Best Joy  comes  at 

last 105 

The  Universal  Church 106 

One  Faith  through  many  Forms..  108 

By  the  Faith  I  live  I'll  die no 

Reformers in 

All  Things  are  Ours 112 

The  Triumph  of  Truth 113 

Thou  Good  and  Gentle  Jesus 114 

Star  of  Bethlehem 115 

Let's  deck  our  Heroes'  Graves 1 16 

Those  We  honor 117 

Sam  Somebody  to  John  Anyone  . .  118 
Who  '11  change  old  Lamps  for  new  120 

My  Mother 123 

The  Choice  of  Duty 124 

Youth  and  Age 125 

My  Early  Songs  1 26 

The  Poet  True 127 

Disenchanted . .  Revived 128 


The  Poet..  Poet's  Mission.. Page 
Reading  poetry.  .Poet  and  Nature 

Chaucer Scott 

Keats....  Shelley  v 

Burns ....  Byron 

Tennyson ....  Celia  Thaxter 

Longfellow Whittier 

''Mosses,"  by  M.  F.  Bridgman, 

M.  D. . .  John  W.  Chadwick  . . 

Alice  and  Phcebe  Gary 

Gerald  Massey 

To  Bret  Harte 

To  my  Pen 

Present  Inspiration . . . .  Word  and 

Deed 

The  Written  Word 

A  Longing  for  the  Sea 

Losses 

Sailor's  Departure  and  Return 

We  Wandered  on  the  Beach 

Pearls  from  out  the  Sea 

The  Pebbles  on  the  Beach 

The  Two  Deeps 

The  Stormy  Sea 

Before  a  Storm . .  A  Thunderstorm 

A  Rainstorm . .  After  a  Storm 

After  Rain 


The  Wind.  .Were  I  a  Cloud 

The  Earth  is  good 

God  is  Love,  by  Nellie  S.  Brunton 

From  the  Hills  of  Vermont 

The  Silent  Hills  

God's  Care..  Lesson  from  the  trees 

The  Clover  Blossom . .  Roses 

Water  Lilies. . .  .Weeds 

The  Snow. .Rainbow  at  Night. . . . 

The  Day's  Repose. .  Evening 

I  thought  I  Rode  amid  the  Clouds 

The  Stars 

The  Moon 

Night 


13" 

i3i 

t33 
134 
135 

136 
137 

138 

'4" 
14' 


i.  it 
145 

146 
147 
148 

149 

'5" 


155 
156 

'57 
158 
159 

I  or, 

161 
i6a 
163 

164 
165 
166 
167 


WHY. 


I  but  sing  to  you  the  songs 
That  my  heart  sings  unto  me  ! 

L.  C.  Rf./fieii. 

Poesy  and  Truth  ought 
Never  to  lie  silent  in  the  singer's  heart  on  earth. 

Robert  Buchanan.. 

The  smallest  sparrow  sings, 
And  some  one  listens;  though  the  nightingale 
With  his  rich  volume  fills  the  neighboring  vale  : 
And  so  I  sing.  This  work-day  world  of  ours 
Is  not  too  full  of  music  and  of  flowers. 

E.  Norman  Gunnison. 

BEHOLD  the  bounteous  ocean  bring  ashore 
The  curious  shell  and  tangled  sea-weed  store  ; 
And  mark  the  eager  crowd  explore  the  beach, 
For  such  they  count  as  gems  and  well  can  reach, 
Tho'  fairer  far  beneath  their  feet  may  lie 
To  bless  the  toiling  hand  and  searching  eye  ; 
Yet  since  they  wish  to  while  away  an  hour, 
Theri  late-won  gains  are  their  sufficient  dower  ; 
And  since  time's  tide  my  words  may  cast  in  sight 
Like  these,  and  please  my  friends, — is  why  I  write ! 

See  how  the  stars  appear  at  eve  with  joy, 
And  take  their  place  in  queenly  night's  employ : 
The  day  will  dawn  and  view  the  peaceful  scene 
With  smiling  face  tho'  he  destroy  their  sheen  ; 
Destroy! — nay,  rather  say. absorb  and  kiss, 
To  form  in  part  his  own  transcendent  bliss  ! 
And  thus  in  night  I  burn  a  twinkling  ray, 
To  gild  the  gloom  and  usher  in  the  day; 
The  sun  may  come,  absorb  and  kiss  my  light, 
I  pray  for  him, — and  this  is  why  I  write ! 

7 


Look  where  the  lily  flowers  and  violets  hide, 
Their  perfumed  beauty  our  perfected  pride ! — 
Hark  where  the  birds  their  merry  notes  prolong, 
And  spend  their  lives  in  sweet  harmonious  song  !  — 
These  have  their  birth  a  blessed  sphere  to  fill,— 
A  sphere  supporting  good,  suppressing  ill:  — 
So  am  I  born,  so  would  I  spend  my  days, 
So  do  I  seek  to  live  and  sing  my  lays, — 
The  task  no  task,  but  willingness  of  might, 
My  heaven  on  earth, — and  this  is  why  I  write  ! 

View  far  around  oppressive  need  and  care, 

See  souls  repine  that  know  nor  faith  nor  prayer ! — 

See  soaring  mind  the  slave  to  daily  toil, 

The  world's  rough  tool  and  circumstance's  spoil ! — 

See  men  not  men  because  of  sin  and  shame, 

And  women, —  empty  echoes  of  that  name  !  — 

Here  lies  my  work  to  aid,  instruct,  and  guide, 

Their  weary  want  to  share,  their  woe  divide  : 

Thus  breathes  sweet  song,  or  else  'twere  frost  and  blight, 

Thus  runs  my  aim, — and  this  is  why  I  write  I 

Say  what  is  life  without  some  labor  true, 
Where  heart-controlling  hopes  receive  their  due? 
Say  what  avail  our  wondrous  skill  and  love, 
If  not  to  bless  the  race  and  lead  above  ? — 
And  what  the  power  sent  down  from  realms  supreme, 
If  not  to  let  our  light  in  darkness  beam  ? 
Thus  would  I  work  in  wisdom's  perfect  plan, 
And  consecrate  my  gifts  to  God  and  man ; 
I  love  our  mother-age  and  futures  bright, 
I  love  mankind,  —  and  this  is  why  I  write  1 

Accept  then  these  culled  "Daisies"  sent 
In  serious  mood  on  human  welfare  bent : 
My  heart  is  here  like  color  in  the  cup 
Of  these  my  flowers  that  did  the  sunlight  sup : 
I  know  their  simple  worth,  and  also  know 
They  may  not  like  the  royal  roses  grow ; 
But  since  they  deck  the  wayside  we  have  trod, 
And  speak  of  youth,  and  help  the  heart  to  God, 
They  may  in  friendly  bonds  our  loves  unite ; 
I  trust  they  will,  —  and  so  in  faith  I  write  ! 


-S 


LOVE. 

Blest  be  Love,  to  whom  we  owe 
All  that's  fair  and  bright  below. 

Moore. 

The  sense  of  the  world  is  short, — 
Long  and  various  the  report, — 

To  love  and  be  beloved; 
Men  and  gods  have  not  outlearned  it ; 
And  how  oft  soe'er  they've  turned  it, 

'Tis  not  to  be  improved! 

Emerson. 

What  is  life  when  wanting  love  ? 

Night  without  a  morning : 
Love's  the  golden  summer  sun, 

Nature  gay  adorning. 

Burns. 

I  believe  we  were  made  to  be  gay, 
And  all  of  youth  not  given  to  love 
Is  vainly  squandered  away. 

John  Hay. 

Secure,  O  Love!  secure 
Thy  blessing  is :  I  have  thee  day  and  night : 
Thou  art  become  my  blood,  my  life,  my  light : 
God's  mercy  thou,  and  therefore  shall  endure. 

Bayard  Taylor. 


THE   CALL. 

COME  tune  thy  harp  and  sing  of  love, 
A  brave  old  minstrel  strain, 
To  fall  like  sunshine  from  above, 

That  dances  on  the  main  ; 
To  fall  and  play  within  my  soul, 

In  feelings  deep  and  strong, 
Till  all  the  golden  billows  roll 
To  love's  majestic  song  ! 

Come  sing  of  some  heroic  maid, 

Who  saw  congenial  heart, 
And  though  his  path  in  darkness  laid, 

She  could  not,  would  not  part  ; 
But  still  with  fervent  faith  was  true, 

And  after  struggles  long, 
Received  her  own  with  honor  due, — 

With  merriment  and  song  ! 

Come  sing  of  some  right  manful  mind, 

Who  in  enraptured  hour. 
Perceived  the  wealth  of  womankind, 

Her  wondrous  grace  and  power ; 
And  tell  the  tale  how  he  was  wrought 

To  rise  amid  the  throng, 
And  win  his  love  as  brave  men  ought, — 

With  glad  triumphal  song  ! 

Come  sing  of  truth  in  man  or  maid, 

That  found  eternal  rest ; 
Lament  the  love  that  grew  to  fade 

In  solitary  breast ! 
Come  sing  thy  lay,  now  joy,  now  tears, 

The  changing  right  and  wrong, 
The  sense  of  sadness  but  endears 

The  music  of  thy  song ! 

Nay,  sing  no  more,  thy  task  is  done, 

Cease  such  bewitching  strains, 
The  service  of  our  souls  is  won, 

Love's  royal  feeling  reigns  : 
We  bend  like  trees  beneath  the  blast ; 

Like  streams  we  sweep  along ; 
Like  even's  skies  with  glow  o'ercast, 

Our  lives  reflect  thy  song  ! 


THE   RESPONSE. 

I'LL  sing  of  love,  because  the  theme 
Has  filled  my  hdart  for  long, 
And  sung  itself  as  some  sweet  stream 

That  spends  its  life  in  song; 
As  skylark  gay  my  voice  I'll  tune, 

As  nightingale  I'll  be, 
And  rich  as  roses  born  in  June, 
That  blush  with  fragrancy  ! 

When  first  my  eyes  beheld  the  sun, 

And  gazed  on  stars  and  flowers, 
The  pleasing  song  was  well  begun, 

And  keyed  to  Nature's  powers : 
And  when  I  heard  the  elder  lay 

Of  masters  brave  and  strong, 
The  instinct  pure  had  soul-like  sway. 

And  burst  in  thrilling  song  ! 

When  I  beheld  the  light  divine 

Gleam  forth  in  summer  sheen, 
And  fill  this  little  world  of  mine, 

A  paradise  was  seen  ; 
The  earth  was  made  a  fairy  place, 

And  time  was  drugged  with  flowers, 
As  hand  in  hand  with  maiden  grace 

I  walked  love's  heavenly  bowers ! 

When  I  beheld  the  joy  of  those 

In  ancient  stories  told, 
My  heart  was  filled  with  fond  repose, 

And  lived  again  the  old ; 
When  I  beheld  the  trials  sore, 

That  tried  the  faithful  pair, 
My  love  had  beauty  more  and  more, 

And  more  for  love  could  dare  ! 

I  '11  sing  of  love  because  the  theme 

Is  one  I  needs  must  sing, 
It  haunts  me  like  a  pleasant  dream, 

The  hopes  of  boyhood  bring ; 
'T  is  mine  to-day  and  evermore, 

The  antidote  to  wrong ; 
It  rolls  like  waves  upon  the  shore, 

A  rich  unceasing  song  1 

II 


PRAISE   NOT   THE   PAST   ALONE. 

WE  sing  the  praise  of  olden  days 
When  castle  walls  were  strong, 
When  men  at  arms  sought  war's  alarms, 

And  lived  in  love  and  song ; 
Then  heroes  bold  dared  death  enfold 

To  guard  the  helpless  fair, 
Aud  win  from  fame  the  gentle  name, 

Our  lords  and  ladies  share  !  — 
I  envy  not  their  good  old  lot, 

Their  maids  of  high  degree, 
But  turn  and  praise  the  present  days, 

And  one  more  dear  to  me  ! 

When  Red-cross  knight  returned  from  fight. 

'T  was  meet  the  feast  and  dance, 
'T  was  meet  the  gaze  and  clustered  rays 

Of  England,  Spain  and  France ; 
Yet  see  not  there  alone  the  fair, 

True  martial  strength  and  need, 
Our  times  divide  with  them  the  pride 

Of  valiant  word  and  deed ! — 
I  envy  not  their  far-famed  lot, 

Their  maids  of  high  degree, 
But  turn  and  praise  the  present  days, 

And  one  more  dear  to  me ! 

We  still  may  tread  where  warriors  bled, 

And  share  their  hate  of  wrong, 
Cross  flood  and  field  till  foeman  yield, 

And  peace  awakens  song ; 
For  us  sweet  eyes  their  glad  surprise 

Shall  smile  to  aid  the  right, 
And  hearts  of  love  themselves  approve 

Unchanged  in  virgin  might ! 
I  envy  not  your  knighthood's  lot, 

Its  beauty  fair  aud  free, 
But  turn  and  praise  the  present  days, 

And  one  most  dear  to  me ! 


LOVE. 

LOVE  as  love  directs, 
Freely,  pure,  and  strong ; 
Purest  love  protects, 

Keeps  the  heart  from  wrong, 
Shines  like  day  upon  our  night, 
Setting  sin's  disorder  right ! 

Cease  to  let  thyself, 

Lightly  hour  by  hour, 
Worship  paint  and  pelf, 

This  and  that  fair  flower ; 
Cease  such  folly,  care,  and  pain, 
Steadfast  love  alone  is  gain  ! 

Let  thy  love  be  free, 

Free  to  choose  her  own, 
Free, — whoe'er  it  be, 

Free  to  make  it  known ; 
_  Free  to  love  where  love  is  just, 
Full  of  gentle  worth  and  trust ! 

Be  no  coward  soul, 

Stand  a  man  erect, 
Let  thy  love  be  whole, 

Such  as  saints  expect ; 
Round  and  bright  as  starry  sphere, 
As  above,  so  be  it  here ! 

Have  no  fears  for  love, 

True  love  cannot  fade, 
With  her  seasons  move, 

Move  thro'  sun  and  shade  ; 
Circling  years  increase  her  might, 
Adding  greater  love  and  light ! 

Love  thro'  want  and  woe, 
Love  thro'  ease  or  strife  ; 

Perfect  pleasure  know, 
Living  love's  pure  life : 

She  shall  be  thy  golden  rest, 

Thou  with  her  forever  blest ! 


IDLE  TALES  PREVENT  NOT  LOVE. 


IDLE  words  may  come  and  go, 
Idle  tales  of  foolish  blame, 

All  the  world  might  be  thy  foe, 
Turning  scorn  on  thy  dear  name, 
Yet  to  me  thou  wert  the  same  ; 

For  my  soul  thy  soul  adores, 

Worships  at  thy  hallowed  shrine, 

There  her  love  in  sweetness  pours, 
Seeing  beauty  all  divine, — 
And  my  heart  of  hearts  is  thine  ! 

Idle  words  like  morning  mist, 

May  enshroud  thy  mountain  base, 

Only  waiting  to  be  kist, 

By  my  love's  resplendent  grace, 
Then  it  stands  a  fairy  place ; 

For,  my  dear,  a  sun  is  love, 
That  can  change  the  outward  show, 

Come  in  splendor  from  above, 
Make  the  murky  falseness  go, 
And  the  world  with  light  o'erflow ! 

Idle  words  may  meet  my  ear, 
Idle  tongues  repeat  their  blame, 

But  my  soul  to  thine  is  near, 
Caring  for  thy  honored  name, 
Being  still  to  thee  the  same ; 

For  below  the  stormy  deep, 

Seas  of  calm  and  rest  are  found, 

And  above  where  tempests  sweep, 
Holy  heavens  of  peace  abound, — 
There  I  lose  each  earthly  sound  ! 


LOVE   WILL    CHOOSE. 

WE  love  the  fair,  sweet-scented  flowers, 
The  golden  light  of  hill  and  glen, 
And  birds  that  spend  the  sunny  hours 

To  cheer  the  drooping  hearts  of  men ; 
We  love  them  all  that  shine  or  sing 

In  garden,  forest,  road,  or  field, 
That  come  the  messengers  of  Spring, 

And  all  melodious  beauty  yield  ; 
But  oft  appears  some  rarer  flower, 

To  win  diviner  depths  of  love, 
Or  sweeter  songster  charms  the  bower, 

To  raise  us  nearer  heaven  above ! 

And  so  we  love  the  human  race, 

The  native  flowers  and  singing  birds, 
Communing  with  their  common  grace, 

Their  kindly  deeds  and  winsome  words ; 
We  love  them  all  from  east  to  west, 

Prom  north  to  south  we  prize  them  dear, 
With  all  their  joy  our  own  attest. 

With  all  their  weeping  shed  the  tear ; 
But  oft  appears  some  fairer  face, 

To  win  a  deeper  depth  of  love, 
Or  sweeter  voice  allures  with  grace 

That  angels  have  in  heaven  above  ! 

I  take  my  stand  by  some  sweet  rill, 

Enraptured  with  the  sights  I  see, 
The  open  plain,  the  fir-crowned  hill, 

And  flower  and  bush  so  dear  to  me  ; 
And  honor  men  or  high  or  low, 

On  this  my  land  or  foreign  shore, 
And  love  that  love  like  this  should  grow, 

And  shed  its  sweetness  more  and  more  ; 
But  oft  I  own  some  closer  tie, 

Some  sweeter  spot,  some  nearer  heart, 
With  which  I  were  content  to  die, 

From  which  nor  life  nor  death  can  part ! 


LOVE   KNOWS    NOT   TIME   OR    SPACE. 

I  CANNOT  think  that  space  divides 
The  sympathy  of  hearts  that  love, 
O'er  ocean  far,  like  ship  it  rides, 

And  flies  like  bird  thro'  skies  above  : 
As  currents  pass  from  pole  to  pole, 

As  light  from  sun  to  earth  will  fly, 
So  passes  love  from  soul  to  soul, 
And  travels  through  the  azure  sky  ! 

I  cannot  think  that  time  may  mar 

The  loveliness  of  love  sincere ; 
It  brightens  like  a  rising  star, 

And  grows  in  beauty  like  the  year  : 
To  it  there  cannot  be  decay, 

Nor  age  as  long  as  time  may  run, 
It  keeps  its  freshness  like  the  day, 

And  rolls  in  glory  like  the  sun ! 

One  may  be  here,  the  other  there, 

With  nothing  left  to  show  their  path, 
They  may  not  know  how  each  doth  fare, 

Yet  each  the  other's  history  hath ; 
And  each  with  each  will  converse  hold, 

And  talk  in  language  angels  know, 
And  each  the  other  will  enfold, 

And  round  the  other  vine-like  grow ! 

And  so  I  will  believe  this  truth, 

To  hearts  that  love  there  is  no  space, 
To  them  there  is  but  love  and  youth, 

And  heaven's  eternal  growth  of  grace : 
They  know  not  time  as  seasons  pass, 

The  ages  but  as  moments  are, 
Eternities  their  fortune  glass, 

And  heavens  of  Heaven  their  pathway  star  ! 


16 


THE   VILLAGE   MAIDEN. 

OTHE  village  maiden, 
She's  with  riches  laden, 
As  ships  that  sail  the  sea ! 
She's  like  the  morning  light, 
Or  summer  stars  at  night, 
So  bright  and  fair  is  she  ! 

O  the  village  maiden, 
She's  with  beauties  laden, 

As  flowers  that  deck  the  lea ! 
Her  soul  with  beaming  grace, 
Gives  sunshine  to  her  face, 

For  gay  and  blithe  is  she  ! 

O  the  village  maiden, 
She's  with  sweetness  laden, 

Like  rose  or  cedar  tree ! 
Her  ways  subdue  the  heart, 
And  noble  thoughts  impart, — 

For  pure  and  blest  is  she ! 

O  the  village  maiden, 
She's  with  glory  laden, 

As  royal  heroes  be ! 
In  simple,  modest  worth, 
She  makes  a  heaven  of  earth, 

For  fairy  skill  hath  she  ! 

O  the  village  maiden, 
She's  with  riches  laden, 

Like  summer  fresh  and  free ! 
She  breathes  her  life  in  light, 
A  flower  in  fragrance  bright, — 

The  queen  of  flowers  to  me  ! 


THE   EXCHANGE. 

I  SAW  thee  wear  a  diamond  ring, 
Upon  thy  finger  neat, 
I  saw  the  jewel  glittering 

Upon  its  golden  seat : 
It  spoke  of  faith  thou  once  hadst  felt, 

And  once  engaged  to  keep, 
As  though  its  donor  daily  knelt 
To  ask  devotion  deep  ! 

I  saw  thee  wear  a  diamond  ring, 

But  not  as  lover  ought ; 
I  saw  it  fade  its  glittering 

As  I  thy  presence  sought ; 
The  jewel  lost  its  radiance  clear, 

And  then  was  put  aside, 
Its  giver  was  no  longer  dear, 

And  could  not  claim  thee  bride  ! 

I  saw  thee  wear  a  diamond  ring, 

I  saw  it  cast  away ; 
I  saw  it  lose  its  glittering 

From  our  first  meeting  day ; 
I  gave  thee  one  to  take  its  place, 

An  amethyst  so  fair  : 
Its  hues  of  heaven  have  heavenly  grace, 

Our  heaven  of  love  lies  there ! 


18 


THE   REQUEST. 

I  LOVE  to  gaze  upon  thy  face, 
To  watch  those  earnest  eyes, 
To  see  thy  cheerfulness  and  grace 

Beam  out  like  summer  skies : 
I  love  to  list  thy  language  sweet, 

With  modulating  bliss ; 
And  deeply  love  all  loves  to  meet 
In  love's  impassioned  kiss  ! 

Then  kiss  me,  dear,  with  rosy  lips, 

With  feeling  warm  and  true, 
Nor  deem  my  love  the  mark  o'erslips, 

Returning  this  to  you ! 
Impress  upon  my  pleading  face 

This  all-perfecting  bliss, 
The  strengthening  joy,  the  gentle  grace, 

Enclosed  within  thy  kiss ! 

'T  will  give  me  cheer  in  darksome  night, 

'T  will  stimulate  and  bless ; 
It  never  can  betray  the  right, 

'T  is  truest  love's  caress ! 
Come  bend  thy  tender  pursing  lips, 

Fear  not,  there 's  nought  amiss, 
Love  feeds  on  dew,  and  sweetly  sips 

Upon  the  heartfelt  kiss ! 


I    AM  THINE. 

I  AM  thine,  a  love-gift  free, 
Sheltered  in  thy  heart, 
Seed  that  lakes  its  life  from  thee. 

Of  thyself  a  part ; 
Clinging  close  to  thee, 
Feeling  thee  so  near, 
None  could  happier  be, 
None  so  truly  dear ! 

I  am  thine, —  do  not  forget, — 

Thine  more  than  I  know ; 
Each  affection  firmly  set 

Where  it  needs  must  grow, — 
Grow  and  bear  its  fruit 

Like  a  towering  tree, 
Branch,  and  stem,  and  root, 

All  enfolding  thee  I 

I  am  thine, —  a  star  new-born 

In  thy  azure  sky, 
Shining  there  from  eve  to  morn, 

Nor  in  daylight  die ; 
Tremble  I  and  glow, 

All  for  love  of  thee, 
Seeking,  love,  to  show 

My  fidelity ! 

I  am  thine, —  the  watchman  true 

Keeping  charge  of  thee ; 
I  thy  battles  will  renew, 

Make  thy  prisoners  free ; 
Bring  thee  rich  success, 

Crown  thy  days  with  bliss, 
Bless  as  monarchs  bless, 

This  —  and  more  than  this ! 

I  am  thine, —  see  yonder  skies  !  — 

Deeper  is  my  love ; 
See  the  mountains  massive  rise !  — 

Stronger  shall  I  prove ! 
Depths  of  love  so  deep, 

Heights  so  strong  and  vast, 
Thee  surround  and  keep 

Long  as  life  shall  last ! 
20 


THOU   ART    MINE. 

V  I  ^  IS  the  month  of  roses 

J.       Blooming  bright  and  gay, 
Where  the  light  reposes 

In  the  summer  clay; 
Then  I  feel  thy  sweetness, 

And  thy  love  divine, 
Come  with  all  completeness, 

Saying,  thou  art  mine ! 

'Tis  the  month  of  snowing, — 

Snowing  day  and  night ; 
Stormy  winds  are  blowing, 

Blowing  frost  and  blight; 
Yet  I  feel  thy  loving 

Far  above  decline, 
All  the  winters  proving, 

Proving  thou  art  mine ! 

Month  of  snow  or  roses, 

Murkiness  or  light, 
Love  its  warmth  discloses, 

Still  in  blessing  bright; 
Changing  not  with  changes, 

Firm  in  shade  or  shine, 
Nought  on  earth  estranges 

Perfect  love  like  thine ! 

Month  of  life  or  dying, 

Here  or  far  beyond, 
Death  and  pain  defying, 

Thou  wilt  love  me  fond ; 
Love,  because  affection 

Bears  this  stamp  divine, 
Gaining  all  protection 

When  that  thou  art  mine  ! 

Trees  might  leave  their,  setting, 

Rivers  shun  the  sea, 
Ocean  cease  his  fretting, 

Thou  still  true  to  me  : 
Snow  might  turn  to  roses, 

Water  change  to  wine, 
Yet  in  thee  reposes 

Faith  that  thou  art  mine  ! 


MARRIAGE. 

SOUL  to  soul, 
As  waves  roll, 
Merge  and  meet, 
Kiss  and  greet, 
Thus  we  bide, 
Dearest  bride ! 

Heart  to  heart, 
Ne'er  to  part ; 
Star  and  light, 
Through  life's  night, 
Firm  we  rest, 
Brightest,  best ! 

Mind  to  mind 
True  and  kind; 
Dew  and  flower, 
Bud  and  bower, 
Thus  we  shine, 
Love  of  mine  ! 

Life  to  life, 
Man  to  wife, 
Wife  to  man, — 
God's  good  plan, 
We  are  wed, 
Beloved! 

Thought  and  deed, 
Hope  and  creed, 
Faith  and  prayer, 
All  we  share, 
Crost  in  none, 
Blessed  one ! 

Here  below 
Bliss  we  sow, 
There  above 
Reap  our  love ; 
Through  all  life 
Man  and  wife ! 

22 


OUR   WEDDING   DAY. 

THIS  is  the  day  of  all  the  days, 
For  which  I  Ve  longed  and  prayed; 
Now  all  my  heart  its  love  obeys, 

Now  all  false  fear  is  stayed ; 
Now  overflowing  joy  is  mine, 

Now  perfect  happiness  and  rest, 
And  heaven  with  peace  and  bliss  divine, 
Descends  to  fill  my  gladdened  breast ! 

This  is  the  day  of  all  my  life 

Round  which  the  others  tend, 
I  YIOW  can  call  my  darling,  "  wife,'  — 

My  counsellor  and  friend  ; 
Before  the  world  we  stand  and  say, — 

As  one  through  life  we  mean  to  go  ! 
O  happy,  happy  wedding  day, 

What  consummating  bliss  we  know ! 

This  is  the  day  our  hearts  desired, 

We  thought  it  lingered  long, 
Hope  drooped  her  wings  and  faith  was  tired. 

And  love  alone  was  strong ; 
We  knew  it  must  at  last  appear, 

And  now  't  is  here  in  bright  array, 
The  happiest  day  of  all  the  year, 

Our  own  resplendent  wedding  day  ! 


I    LOVE   BUT   THEE. 

TO  thee,  O  love,  my  heart  is  given, 
Before  high  God,  before  high  heaven : 
Thou  art  the  queen  of  this  pure  breast, 
To  thee  each  thought  is  well  confest, 
No  hope  have  I  thou  dost  not  share, 
No  faith,  no  love,  no  wish,  no  prayer ; 
Thou  art  indeed  my  love,  my  own, 
I  love  but  thee,  but  thee  alone  ! 

My  heart  is  like  the  lake's  cleaj  shrine 

Where  thou  art  seen  as  heaven  divine ; 

And  since  thy  love  doth  mine  adorn, 

I  never  can  be  sad  or  lorn, 

For  everywhere  thy  presence  stands 

With  smiling  face  and  outstretched  hands,- 

With  blessings  sweet  I  long  have  known ; 

I  love  but  thee,  but  thee  alone  ! 

My  own,  I  love  but  thee  through  life, 
For  none  can  rival  love  of  wife, 
All  other  loves  pale  like  the  stars, 
When  morn  her  golden  gate  unbars  ; 
And  thou  art  mine  in  love  supreme, 
A  sun  that  on  my  soul  doth  beam  — 
A  vision  never  from  me  flown ; 
I  love  but  thee,  but  thee  alone ! 


24 


MORE   LOVE. 

MORE  love,  more  love,  is  what  I  cry, 
As  run  the  hours  from  morn  to  night, 
I  ask  thy  face  for  fresh  supply, 

For  day's  increasing  sense  of  light ; 
My  heart  expands  as  thou  dost  give, 
The  sea  cannot  so  much  contain, — 
Then  give  the  love  whereon  I  live, 
O  give  me  love  again,  again ! 

At  first  I  asked  a  simple  smile ; 

A  word,  a  look  were  all  I  sought; 
Therein  I  basked  a  little  while, 

As  though  bright  gems  I  'd  bought ; 
Then  more  I  craved  with  hunger  deep, 

As  summer  seeks  the  rain; 
Wide  fields  of  love  I  wish  to  reap, 

O  give  me  love  again,  again  1 

Nay,  think  not  thou,  I  am  content, 

Or  can  restrain  my  heart's  desire, 
Its  miser-greed  on  wealth  is  bent, 

For  treasure  there  'tis  all  afire ; 
O  yield  thyself  in  all  thy  sweets ; 

Give  up  whate'er  thy  loves  contain ; 
O  come  to  me  with  fond  heart-beats, 

O  give  me  love  again,  again  1 


REMEMBRANCES. 

WITHIN  my  breast,  dear  wife,  to-day, 
I  feel  .a  sense  I  cannot  speak; 
I  think  of  thee,  and  then  I  say, — 

0  would  to  God  that  utterance  weak 
With  angel  love  might  now  be  fired, 

To  tell  this  hidden  thought  to  thee  ; 
To  tell  how  life  has  been  inspired 
Since  thou  wert  first  revealed  to  me  ! 

O  happy  days  that  I  have  known, 
Since  we  together  sweetly  met ; 

0  happy  days  —  so  fleetly  flown  — 

1  cling  to  you  with  fond  regret ! 

1  fain  would  bring  you  back  again 
From  out  the  golden  sky  that  's  past, 

And  let  you  fall  like  summer  rain 
Once  more  where  first  your  drops  were  cast ! 

For  was  it  not  our  soul's  delight, 

That  meeting  dear  of  kindred  hearts  ? 
Remember  you  that  landscape  bright, 

That  ne'er  from  me  one  hour  departs? 
The  glance  I  gave  when  first  your  face, 

Like  prophet  vision,  crossed  my  mind, 
And  all  of  love's  entrancing  grace, 

In  that  fair  scene  again  I  find ! 

And  I  remember  how  my  heart 

Had  dawning  sense  that  you  were  near, 
As  beams  of  daylight  upward  dart 

Before  the  day  itself  shines  clear ; 
A  pleasant  voice  bespoke  you  mine, 

A  pleasant  dream  in  beauty  sent, 
And  then  your  life  round  mine  did  twine, 

And  prove  its  fairest  ornament ! 

Once  more  I  see  you  by  the  brook, 

NoW  parting  trees  and  climbing  rocks, 
And  in  and  out,  from  many  a  nook, 

Like  shepherd  'mong  his  clustered  flocks. 
We  were  so  bright  and  gay  of  heart, 

As  there  like  sprites  we  joyful  strayed, 
Life  seemed  to  change  and  turn  in  part, 

As  though  we  were  immortal  made. 

26 


The  summer  season  gave  its  light, 

Its  warmth  to  bless  the  cheering  day. 
And  there  hard-by  the  forest  bright, 

We  whiled  the  happy  hours  away ; 
Beneath  the  beech  or  spreading  oak 

We  sat  to  list  to  brook  and  birds, 
Or  th»se  sweet  strains  of  music  spoke 

l!y  tongues  aflame  with  love-lit  words! 

<  ••.;••  vnvs  were  made  as  wood-birds  vow; 

Our  loves  were  grown  like  nature's  flowers, 
So  free  and  fair,  both  then  and  now; 

So  set  in  green  encircling  bowers. 
I  call  thee  wife,  thou  art  my  wife, 

That  precious  blessing  rich  and  rare ; 
The  breathing  life  of  all  my  life, 

The  soul  that  must  my  soul-life  share ! 

I've  given  all  I  have  to  thee, 

Because  I  could  not  choose  but  give ; 
Thy  genial  sun  befriended  me, 

And  love's  fair  flower  for  thee  did  live ; 
There  in  thy  rays  it  finds  its  own, 

Its  own  pure  life  with  beauty  blest, 
It  cannot  grow  or  thrive  alone, — 

Thou  summer  light  and  peaceful  rest ! 

Our  life  appears  without  a  fleck, 

To  cross  its  glorious  noon-day  sky, 
But  should  our  eve  have  spot  or  speck, 

I  know  in  glory  it  will  die ; 
Thy  rays  right  through  the  darkest  cloud, 

Would  gathering  beams  of  beauty  shed, 
Till  gorgeousness  would  all  enshroud, — 

The  sunset's  amber,  green,  and  red ! 

0  life  divine,  this  life  of  love ! 

O  sweet  transcendent  spirit  lore ! 

What  more  have  perfect  souls  above  ? 

What  better  life  on  other  shore  ? 

1  am  content,  transfigured  now, 
Here  resting  in  thy  presence  sweet, 

A  halo  falls  on  heart  and  brow, 

And  love  and  truth  in  gladness  meet ! 

27 


POSSESSION. 

MY  wife  complains  I  am  not  hers  indeed, 
Because,  forsooth,  my  past  has  had  its  loves ; 

For  these  she  turns  on  me  with  keen  reproves, 
And  would  from  out  my  mind  uproot  the  weed : 
She  cannot  brook  that  in  my  heart  one  seed 

Should  grow  that  time  has  sown  in  all  the  past, 

Or  that  one  care  on  all  that  was  be  cast, 
That  either  rain  or  sun  the  roots  should  feed  ! 
Well,  be  it  so  !  there  are  no  clingings  there  ; 

I  have  no  loves  I  wish  to  own  one  hour; 
My  own  dear  wife  from  all  her  kind  is  fair ; 

My  own  dear  wife  alone  has  grace  and  power ; 
Like  Aaron's  rod  she  swallows  up  the  rest ; 
Or  like  the  dawn  the  stars  in  her  are  blest ! 


A  GIFT   OF   FLOWERS. 

AS  out  afield  I  strayed,  I  brought  thee  flowers, 
My  own  sweet  wife,  where  hedge-row  flowers  are  gay. 

For  they  in  sweetness  by  my  pathway  lay, 
Since  thus  our  God  His  fair  green  world  endowers  ; 
I  gave  thee  them,  a  loving  present  fair, 

Because  I  knew  't  would  please  thee  more  than  well, 

Their  colors  rich,  and  then  their  perfumed  smell 
Would  my  remembering  love  to  thee  declare. 
And,  O  my  sweet,  thou  then  didst  add  thine  own, 

From  garden  gathered,  making  them  complete, 
And  my  poor  gift  as  mine  were  hardly  known, 

It  was  so  rich,  so  beautiful,  and  sweet ; 
Thus  loving  deeds  from  husband  done  to  wife, 
Have  grace  renewed  and  love's  transfigured  life  ! 


28 


ABSENCE. 

OLOVE,  thy  absence  hour  by  hour  I  feel, 
I  wait  for  thee  as  child  its  mother  dear, 

As  child  awaits  and  watches  evening  near, 
And  night  and  loneliness  about  it  steal  ! 
I  long  and  pray  for  thee  as  mothers  kneel 

Whose  sons  are  out  on  stormy  deep  at  night, 

And  set  full  clear  for  thee  the  beacon  light, 
To  guide  thee  safe  to  home  and  all  its  weal ! 
I  know  thee  where  thou  art,  I  seem  to  be 

Close  by  thy  side  and  all  thy  movements  know; 
Thy  back  or  forward  steps  I  hear  and  see, 

And  thrill  with  joy  or  agonize  with  woe ; 
O  darling  come,  let  absence  frost-like  flee, 

And  thy  sweet  face  appear  as  flowers  thro'  snow  ! 


HOW   WE    SHALL    MEET. 

AS  friends  that  loved  and  years  have  kept  apart  ; 
As  comrades  when  the  din  of  war  is  done  ; 

As  mother  when  returns  her  sailor  son, 
And  praise  and  peace  possess  her  happy  heart ; 
As  birds  that  swift  to  meet  their  nestlings  dart  ; 

As  summer  showers  that  kiss  the  earth  green-drest 

As  stars  that  rise  above  the  fading  West ; — 
So  shall  we  meet  and  bury  care  and  smart  1 
As  morn  upsprings  to  give  new  life  to  men ; 

As  dewdrops  fold  their  freshness  in  the  flowers  ; 
As  rivers  rush  to  greet  the  sea  again ; 

So  shall  we  come ;  so  runs  this  love  of  ours, 
For  here  our  hearts  renew  their  spring-tide  fair, 
And  songs  of  hope,  and  fragrance  fill  the  air  ! 


29 


THY    PORTRAIT. 

YES,  this  is  thee  as  near  as  art  portrays, 
The  same  sweet  face  that 's  met  me  morn  by  morn. 
The  same  sweet  soul,  whose  well-beloved  ways 

Drive  fear  afar  and  all  that  looks  forlorn  ! 
These  are  thine  eyes  that  beam  so  true  and  warm : 

And  .this  thy  mouth  for  rosy  kisses  made  ; 

In  thee  there 's  all  that  in  this  type  is  laid, 
And  much  beside  that  art  can  never  form ! 
And  thou  hast  sent  me  this  to  let  me  see 

Thy  looks  are  still  the  same,  and  thou  art  mine  ; 
Why  darling  these  sweet  truths  as  mountains  be, 

And  can  no  more  than  day  and  night  decline  : 
I  know  thee  true,  I  know  thy  soul  and  face, 
I  know  thv  love  doth  all  mv  life  embrace  ! 


A   TREASURED    MEMORY. 

npO-NIGHT  I  rode  so  sweetly  home  at  dark, 
-L      And  while  we  past  the  woods  and  fields  so  drear, 

I  thought  of  such  another  ride  last  year, 
That  made  upon  my  mind  its  lasting  mark. 
To  such  pure  laughter,  sweet  as  sweetest  lark, 

I  list,  and  all  the  present  calls  the  past, 

And  o'er  this  scene  the  one  of  old  is  cast, 
And  bears  the  worth  of  earth  like  Noah's  ark ! 
'T  was  then  we  spent  the  sweetest  time  on  earth  ; 

'T  was  then  we  found  our  beating  hearts  were  one  ; 
'T  was  then  that  love  was  wild,  extatic  mirth, 

And  sense  of  mundane  things  in  joy  was  gone ! 
That  ride  and  all  its  fair  attendant  train, 
As  moon  to  earth  with  me  will  fast  remain ! 


THE    NEW    MOON. 

LAST  night  my  love  and  I  were  walking  out, 
The  sweet  new  moon  just  dawned  upon  the  sky, 

But  I  intent  on  her  fair  face,  passed  by, 
The  happy  scenes  of  nature  all  about, 
Till  :ihe  my  clustered  thoughts  at  once  did  rout, 

15y  turning  o'er  my  shoulder  right,  my  eye, 

That  thus  with  luck  I  might  its  rising  spy; 
And  luck  was  mine  that  month  with  laugh  and  shout! 
O  hippy,  lingering  ways  of  olden  time, 

When  simple  hearts  believed  in  fairy  lore, 
When  common  mortals  found  the  poet's  clime, — 

That  we  at  heart  so  deeply  still  adore ; 
Her  laughing  love  was  Nature's  golden  boon, 
And  made  luck  beam  from  out  the  pale-faced  moon ! 


MOCK    MARRIAGES. 

WHAT  boots  a.  loveless  marriage  made  by  men, 
By  wisest  mothers  in  their  dreams  of  gold, 

By  tricks  the  keen-eyed  still  as  tricks  behold, 
While  maidens  seek  to  snare  and  catch  them  then  ? — 
W.iat  boots — for  all  such  sophiscries  can  ken, 

Though  wrapt  in  many  a  neat  and  silken  fold, 

And  all  their  worthlessness  is  speedy  told, 
Though  never  spoke  by  mouth  or  writ  by  pen. 
God  curses  all  that  thus  defame  fair  love, 

That  mask  their  wickedness  in  goodly  guise ; 
He  sends  his  searching  angels  from  above, 

Discovering  all  our  mocking  shams  and  lies  ; 
He  scorns  us  in  the  eyes  of  all  our  kind, 
And  fixes  hell  where  heaven  might  be  enshrined. 


31 


MY   LOVE  IS   FALSE. 

MY  love  is  false  I  thought  so  true, 
I  ne'er  shall  see  that  love  again 
He  leaves  the  old  and  seeks  the  new, 

Nor  heeds  the  old  or  new-born  pain  ; 
I  tried  my  best  to  keep  him  fast, 

But  now  he 's  lost  and  dead  to  me, 
The  flowers  are  withered  by  the  blast, 

The  fruit  has  died  upon  the  tree  ; 
My  love  is  lost,  —  O  woe  is  me  ! 

My  love  is  false,  I  thought  so  fair, 
We  may  not  join  in  love  again, 

Oh !  blue  his  eyes  and  light  his  hair, 
But  all  his  beauty  caused  me  pain ; 

I  served  him  well  in  sun  and  shine, 
But  he  is  lost  like  ships  at  sea, 

The  love  is  lost  I  thought  was  mine, 
And  I  in  life  from  love  am  free, 
But  'tis  like  death,  —  O  woe  is  me  ! 

Dare  not  to  talk  of  comfort  now, 

Dare  not  to  say  or  hate,  or  praise, 
The  dew  is  heavy  on  my  brow, 

In  mournfulness  I  '11  spend  my  days : 
The  sun  may  shine,  the  birds  may  sing, 

And  all  about  most  lovely  be, 
For  me  there  is  no  gladsome  thing, 

A  shadow  rests  on  all  I  see ; 

My  love  is  false, —  O  woe  is  me ! 


SECRETS. 


ARE  there  any  secrets  hidden, 
From  the  eye  of  trustful  wife, 
Lest  the  husband  should  be  chidden, 
And  the  tears  should  start  unbidden, 
Marring  peace  of  married  life  ? 


Are  there  any  stolen  pleasures 

Kept  from  her  so  good  and  true, — 
That  his  heart  in  falseness  treasures, 
And  with  miser  passion  measures, 
Thinking  he  shall  never  rue  ? 

Policy  the  worst  possessing, 

Surely  bringing  after  strife, 

Making  pain  of  dearest  blessing, 

Chilling  e'en  the  best  caressing, 

She  is  wed,  and  yet  no  wife  I 


There  can  be  no  secrets  hidden, 

Where  true  love  and  faith  are  rife, 
Wrong  will  be  by  wisdom  chidden, 
Tears  will  wash  the  sin  unbidden, 
Mating  husband  unto  wife  I 


33 


LOVE  CAN  FADE. 

I  TELL  you  love  can  fade  and  fall  away, 
As  fades  at  eve  the  glorious  summer  day ; — 
So  can  it  fade  that  promised  long  to  stay, 
And  wilt  as  sweetest  roses,  blown,  decay  ! 
We  tire  of  brightness,  even  of  the  sun, — 
'T  was  heavenly  when  at  dawn  it  first  begun, 
'T  was  fair  as  fair  till  highest  noon  was  won, 
Then  it  declined  till  all  was  dark  and  dun !  — 
So  fades  the  common  day  of  summer  love, 

However  bright  its  rosy  morn  may  seem ; 
It  shines  awhile  like  yonder  sun  above, 

Then  fades  like  it,  or  fades  a  pleasing  dream ; 
Recall  the  day,  bind  fast  its  fading  light ; 
Then  may  you  keep  your  love  from  merging  night ! 


DISTRUST. 


TO  live  where  mists  are  always  brooding  round  ; 
Where  clouds  o'erhang  the  sky  the  livelong  day, 

And  have  no  opening  prospect  bright  and  gay ; 
Nor  feelings  light  to  make  the  heart  rebound, 
But  all  one  dull,  monotonous  profound, 

Were  worse  than  any  death  upon  our  way; 

Were  worse  than  if  some  ill  at  once  should  slay. — 
For  we  are  eased  of  doubt  when  in  the  ground ! 
O  thus  and  worse  is  life  bred  by  distrust, 

When  man  and  wife  live  fast  by  misty  doubt, 
Their  lives  are  damp  with  dew  and  foul  with  rust ; 
Their  noble  feelings  fade  to  crumbling  dust, 

And  ruin  stares  them  everywhere  about, 

And  life  in  deepest  darkness  passes  out ! 


34 


TRUE  LOVE  CANNOT   DIE. 

MEN  say  that  love  will  fade  and  die  — 
Will  fade  and  die  like  autumn  flowers  ; 
It  comes  to  bask  'neath  summer  sky, 

And  live  like  roses  in  its  bowers ; 
And  then,  as  seasons  roll  apace, 
It  fades  and  falls  and  loses  grace ! 


Men  say  that  love  can  change  its  hues, 
If  sky  is  dark  and  days  are  drear, 

And  that  it  wanes  or  else  renews, 
As  scenes  or  dull  or  bright  appear ; 

And  love  will  die  if  night  arise, 

And  leave  us  nought  but  midnight  skies ! 


True  love  is  not  thus  frail  as  flowers, 
But  strong  as  stars  that  gem  the  sky ; 

And  shines  most  clear  in  darkest  hours, 
And  lives  while  all  beside  may  die; 

It  is  of  heaven,  though  seen  on  earth, 

And  has,  like  heaven,  eternal  birth ! 


No  fairer  light  to  men  is  known, 
No  guiding  like  its  steadfast  beam ; 

And  they  who  love  live  not  alone, 

And  dare  not  wander  like  the  stream ; 

They  live  in  one  sweet  sphere  for  aye, 

And,  like  the  stars,  pass  not  away ! 


35 


DARK   DAYS    AND    BRIGHT 

THERE  are  light  and  dark  days,  wife,  in  this  strange  life  of 
ours; 

Mingled  sun  and  shade,  my  love,  fallen  leaves  and  flaming  flower^. 
Seasons  come  and  seasons  go,  and  change  from  form  to  form, 
Bringing  now  the  summer  calm,  and  now  the  winter  storm. 
No  two  days  return  alike,  dividing  hope  or  fear ; 
No  two  days  dispense  their  gifts  with  equal  favor,  dear. 
All  is  movement,  like  the  tides,  and  we,  as  ships  at  sea, 
Sail  from  isle  to  isle,  and  find  repayments  glad  and  free. 
No  complaint  have  we  to  make,  if  smooth  or  rough  the  wave, 
Since  the  varied  round  of  life  comports  with  wishes  brave ! 


You  and  I  allow,  my  love,  'tis  thus.we  spend  the  years, 

Gladdened  now  with  health  and  joy,  then  turned  to  loss  and  tears 

What  but  this  portrays  the  past,  and  shows  the  way  we  trod, 

Led  by  other  love  than  ours  —  the  perfect  love  of  God? 

What  but  this  so  hard  at  first,  a  bud  close-clasped  and  dull, 

Bursting  out  at  last,  my  love,  in  fragrance  beautiful  ? 

Sore  the  travel  many  a  mile,  and  ill  the  cheer  we  had, 

Then  a  place  of  peace  we  found,  and  friendships  fair  and  glad. 

Waited  we  in  doubt  at  times,  discerning  not  the  morn ; 

But  in  season  due  it  came  and  shamed  belief  forlorn  ! 


Grief  that  had  its  hour  has  proved  the  source  of  strength  and  will  ; 
And  the  stars  have  filled  the  sky  when  night  grew  dark  and  still. 
Wicked  words  of  weakness  spoken,  and  deeds  we  did  not  mean, 
Have  retouched  affection's  tone  till  better  life  was  seen. 
Yes,  and  better  life  was  planned  from  failures  felt  and  known, 
And  from  plants  the  world  thought  stricken  fair  flowers  of  love 

have  grown. 

Pearls  have  birth  in  wounds,  they  say,  and  virtues  come  the  same  ; 
Earthly  woes  we  call  them,  love,  that  bear  a  heavenly  name. 
For  the  trial  of  to-day  has  grace,  when  nobly  met, 
And  the  golden  crown  is  won  by  anguish  and  regret ! 


Days  of  earth  are  ,but  an  hour,  the  day  of  heaven  ne'er  ends  ; 
What  we  sow  in  time  we  reap  when  God  his  harvest  sends. 
And  the  pathways  narrow  here  are  broad  that  reach  the  skies, 
And  the  soul  has  fruitage  there,  that  here  with  love  is  wise. 
Seek  no  more  for  rest  as  rest,  but  take  the  task  assigned  ; 
Give,  O  give  to  it.  my  love,  a  willing  heart  and  mind ; 
Let  dark  days  return  at  will,  and  let  the  bright  ones  roll, 
We  will  wait  the  aftergift  —  the  blossom  of  the  soul. 
We  will  wait  and  work  the  while  within  our  humble  sphere,. 
Doing  bravely  His  just  will  —  in  everything  sincere  ; 


Doing  duty  as  we  ought,  and  fearing  Him  in  love, 
Trusting  all  He  gives  to  us  to  lead  our  lives  above ; 
Trusting  time  will  come  and  stay  when  changing  seasons  die, 
And  the  summer  of  our  hearts  remains  with  us  on  high. 
Oh,  the  praise  of  that  glad  hour,  the  rapture  keen  and  blest, 
Recompenses  every  smart  and  fills  the  soul  with  rest ! 
Go,  ye  days,  and  come,  O  heaven !  we  wait  thy  advent  pure  ; 
'Mid  the  shifting  scenes  of  time  of  thee  and  thine  secure ; 
Thee  in  all  thy  splendor  vast,  and  thine  in  all  its  worth ; 
Angel  brothers  for  our  friends,  eternity  for  earth ! 


37 


WILL   WEDDED    LOVE  REMAIN  ? 


MY  wife  is  mine  I  dare  to  think  full  well, 
But  tender  care  returns  at  times  to  chide, 

And  say  she  may  not  always  mine  abide ; 
She  may  not  ever  with  me  peaceful  dwell ; 
Some  heart  more  kin  to  hers  its  tale  may  tell ; 

A'sun  arise  my  little  star  to  hide, 

And  I,  tho'  loved  e'en  now,  be  cast  aside, 
And  left  to  rot  like  weeds  by  some  sea-swell ! 
Who  knows  ?  —  so  might  it  be,  and  I  be  fooled, 

And  lose  my  labor  long  and  love  so  gay  1 
Who  knows  ?  —  so  might  it  be,  and  I  be  schooled 

To  manhood  firm  by  treading  such  a  way ! 
I  can  but  smile  while  breathe  the  flowers  of  Spring ; 
I  can  but  list  so  long  as  love  shall  sing ! 

And  could  I  then  forego  her  love  I  've  owned, 
And  nurst  as  mine  with  such  peculiar  care, 
And  doted  on  as  looking  sweet  and  fair, 

Because  within  my  heart  it  sat  enthroned  ? 

I  asked  my  soul,  and  all  my  nature  groaned, — 
ft  were  so  ill  such  fruitless  fate  to  share  ; 
It  were  so  ill  such  loss  at  last  to  bear ; 

It  were  so  ill ;  it  were  so  ill ;  I  moaned  ! 

I  took  her  thus  to  be  my  bride  indeed; 

To  leave  the  world  however  gay  and  grand  ; 

To  serve  me  true  in  all  my  want  and  need ; 
To  serve  me  true  with  willing  heart  and  hand ; 

And  loss  were  loss  and  death  itself  I  know; 

But  when  love's  flowers  of  Autumn  go,  they  go ! 


You  cannot  keep  within  your  grasp  the  sand, 
The  silver  sand  that  lines  the  long  sea-shore, 
Its  trickling  fineness  will  thro'  fingers  pour, 

And  leave  at  last  the  clear  and  empty  hand. 

All  earthly  things  will  fail  of  our  command  ; 
Will  fade  and  fall  returning  ours  no  more, 
Our  riches  fair,  our  friends  and  friendly  lore ; 

And  we  as  souls  alone  in  soul-life  stand ! 

The  things  we  have  we  cannot  call  them  ours, 
They  are  but  lent  to  teach  us  that  and  this ; 

They  come  to  us  as  come  the  sun  and  showers, 
That  give  to  earth  its  varied  forms  of  bliss ; 

They  come  to  serve  their  day  then  cease  to  be ; 

So  may  it  fall  that  love  may  fail  and  flee ! 


It  may !  —  I  scream,  and  curse  the  hour  I  knew 
The  feeling  first  of  all  that  last  may  fade  : 
O  present  day  is  dark  with  prospect  shade, 

And  o'er  my  summer  Winter  gloomness  grew! 

O  thou  my  dearer  self,  my  wife,  be  true ; 
Be  all  to  me  my  love  thy  image  made ; 
Be  all  the  love  my  soul  in  homage  paid, 

Nor  melt  from  off  my  heart  some  day  like  dew ! 

Blest  one,  I  pray  to  God  for  life  of  love 
For  all  the  years  and  years  our  life  may  span ; 

For  all  that 's  here,  and  all  that 's  there  above ; 
For  all  the  eternities  may  give  to  man ; 

May  His  abounding  love  our  loves  secure, 

For  love  and  life  as  one  must  aye  endure  I 


39 


MY  WIFE   AND    I. 


MY  wife  and  I  have  love  and  love's  delights  at  times, 
Sweet  wedding  verse  that  ends  with  rich,  harmonious 

rhymes ; 

We  step  in  line  together  and  merry  music  make, 
And  find  the  journey  sweet  for  fond  companion's  sake  ; 
The  way  so  long  is  dear  and  draws  us  nearer  yet, 
And  in  this  growing  peace  a  paradise  we  get ; 
And  life  seems  short  to  us  and  earth  a  narrow  round, 
So  that  we  seek  the  realm  perfected  spirits  found ! 
We  wed  for  love  alone  and  live  to  own  its  claim, 
While  still  our  hearts  within  us  brightly  burn  and  flame ; 
But  spite  of  this  and  that,  and  full  of  wretched  spite, 
Our  true-love  life  will  fail  and  miss  the  mark  of  right ; 
At  times  the  saddest  sense  will  dawn  of  something  wrong, 
And  darken  all  our  days  and  turn  to  wail  our  song ; 
We  act  with  foreign  air  and  far  away  distrust, 
And  love's  estate  is  fired  and  crumbles  into  dust ; 
Each  frets  and  fumes  at  each  and  sees  thro'  shades  of  night, 
And  loves  the  gathering  mist,  when  we  might  walk  in  light ! 


40 


1  never  thought  this  blight  could  spread  throughout  our  xvo<xl, 

For  love  did  start  so  fair,  so  beautiful,  and  good ; 

Two  birds  could  not  be  sweeter  in  their  life  and  ways, 

Than  our  two  hearts  all  in  those  bright  and  sunny  days  : 

Vet  flecks  of  cloud  at  noon  would  dart  across  the  sun, 

And  out  to  meet  the  eve  in  lengthening  islands  run : 

Half  fears,  half  doubts  at  times  disturbed  our  hallowed  rest, 

And  made  us  comfortless,  and  lone,  and  all  unblest ; 

I  thought  her  love  denied  my  sole  and  single  claim, 

That  came  to  me  I  wist  in  joining  hand  and  name : 

I  thought  that  others  stood  with  rights  that  clashed  with  mine, 

And  when  I  thought  like  this,  my  soul-life  would  repine ; 

I  have  my  fears  of  her,  am  selfish,  cross,  unkind ; 

I  think  she  slights  me,  half  in  heart  and  half  in  mind; 

I  think  our  garden  fades  and  flowers  no  longer  blow, 

And  we  forget  to  till  and  other  seeds  to  sow ; 

And  so  the  land  is  dearth  where  Eden  used  to  be ; 

And  so  nor  wife  nor  I  attain  what  we  would  see  1 


I  know  not  how  it  is,  I  think  our  choice  is  fair ; 

I  know  our.  love  is  true  and  burns  with  true-love  care ; 

I  think  my  body  might  to  martyr  fires  be  sent, 

And  with  a  smile  from  her  to  die  I  'd  be  content ; 

I  think  she'd  pass  from  heaven  and  seek  my  soul  in  hell, 

And  leave  the  angel-life  with  me  in  pain  to  dwell ; 

But  still  the  trial  is  how  wife  and  I  shall  find, 

The  perfect  harmony  of  soul,  and  heart,  and  mind  : 

Is  it  the  long  result  of  years  and  years  to  be  ? 

Or  can  it  come  full  soon  as  we  desire  to  see  ? 

O  angels  make  essay  and  shed  your  blessing  sweet, 

Help  us  to  grow  to  you  and  all  your  love  complete ; 

Shed  down  your  beams  of  grace  from  regions  bright  above, 

And  raise  our  souls  in  time  to  life's  immortal  love ; 

Give  us  the  perfect  day  that  has  no  shade  of  cloud ; 

Give  us  the  perfect  light  that  doth  your  home  enshroud ; 

And  take  us  by  the  hand,  while  flowers  strew  the  way, 

And  lead  us  from  our  dawn  to  your  meridian  day ! 


THE  WIFE'S   APPEAL. 

AH !  Fred,  how  things  have  changed  about  since  first  you  came 
to  court, 

Since  first  we  saw  each  other's  face  and  all  our  life  was  sport ; 
I  then  was  sixteen,  sweet  and  bright,  had  health  and  rosy  cheeks, 
A  merry  twinkle  in  my  eye  that  told  of  fun  and  freaks  ; 
The  lads  would  fuss  and  gather  round,  and  try  to  win  my  heart, 
While  jealous  looks  and  sighs  made;  known  the  depth  of  Cupid's 

smart ; 

But  you  succeeded  first  and  last,  and  won  me  then  and  there, 
And  all  the  neighborhood  was  glad  to  see  so  good  a  pair ; 
And  we  rejoiced  much  more  than  all,  and  loved  each  other  well, 
And  deemed  it  bliss  beyond  all  thought  in  one  dear  home  to  dwell ; 
It  seemed  to  us  the  life  of  birds  that  live  in  field  and  sky, 
That  sing  the  live-long  day  of  love,  till  summer  passes  by ! 
Ah,  summer  went,  and  things  have  changed,  have  sadly  changed 

our  lot, 
The  light  and  joy  have  passed  away,  the  pleasures  are  forgot ! 


You  recollect  how  strong  you  were,  and  said  you  'd  work  your  way, 
Preserve  yourself  from  drink,  and  all  that  leads  the  mind  astray ; 
Inform  yourself  as  workmen  should,  have  books  to  read  at  ease, 
And  make  our  circumstances  such  as  could  not  fail  to  please ; 
You  'd  win  a  friendly  circle  round  our  cottage  hearth  and  home, 
That  there  you  might  enjoy  yourself  and  never  need  to  roam  ; 
Our  sweet,  sweet  home  we  said  should  be  as  dear  as  earth  has  seen, 

42 


Have  household  relics,  here  and  there,  to  suit  your  little  queen. 
All  t'.iis  was  ours,  and  things  were  smooth,  and  went  on  well  and 

right, 
And  home  was  home,  the  sweetest  home,  for  you  were  there  at 

night. 
Your  mates,  at  time-;,  might  come  and  try  to  wheedle  you  away, 

>u  ne'er  went,  save  now  and  then,  we  both  would  see  the 

play  : 

Ah,  things  were  sweet  and  happy,  then,  and  might  be  happy  still, 
But  men  forget  their  early  vows  and  cross  their  nobler  will ! 


Our  little  darling,  came,  you  know,  quite  early  in  the  year, 

And  passed  away  like  melting  snow  when  warmer  days  appear; 

And  we  were  drawn  much  nearer  then,  and  lived  in  purer  peace, 

Until  our  little  Willie's  birth,  when  love  began  to  cease. 

He 's  got  to  live  and  fight  his  way,  needs  clothes,  and  books,  and 

such, 

And  you  are  careless  how  he  feels  want's  cold  and  chilling  touch. 
It  did  not  come  on  all  at  once,  it  grew  from  time  to  time, 
As  winter  fills  the  autumn  air  and  brings  the  colder  clime. 
I  've  wept  _f  or  hours  and  hours  at  this,  and  tried  to  coax  you  back, 
In  vain,  howe'er,  for  still  you  kept  in  sin  and  sorrow's  track. 
It  seems  so  strange  to  see  you  thus,  it  seems  a  dreadful  dream, 
A  something  really  false  to  life,  some  wizard's  wicked  scheme. 
But  still  't  is  true,  alas,  too  true,  for  husbands  change  again, 
And  women's  hearts  are  daily  broke  on  hard,  unfeeling  men  ! 


I  know  things  went  awry  in  work  and  hitched  in  other  ways, 

But  courage  takes  you  through  the  drift,  and  manhood  ever  pays  ; 

And  whajf's  the  use  of  skirking  care  till  it  subdues  you  quite  ? 

Ah,  me  !  't  is  nobler,  braver  far  to  meet  it  all  and  fight ! 

And  I  and  Willie  wished  to  cheer  and  help  you  in  the  way, 

And  yet  desire  the  good  old  times  that  blest  our  wedding  day  : 

Come  Fred,  and  be  a  man  indeed,  forsake  your  lazy  life, 

Do  what  a  husband  should  and  can  to  cheer  his  child  and  wife : 

And  then  I  know  that  things  will  change,  and  that  the  sun  will  rise ; 

The  birds  will  sing,  the  flowers  will  grow  and  summer  fill  the  skies ; 

For  never  yet  was  man  so  poor,  but  brave  and  earnest  will, 

Would  turn  the  tide  of  fortune's  sea  and  make  the  tempest  still ; 

And  I  shall  feel  that  wrong  and  woe  have  not  been  all  in  vain, 

If  from  the  barren  ground  the  springtide  flowers  put  forth  again ! 


43 


I   COME  TO  THEE. 


I  COME  to  thee,  my  wife, 
In  every  time  of  need, 
To  strengthen  me  in  strife 

For  noble  work  and  deed  ; 
I  come  in  hours  of  calm, 

Because  thy  love  is  rest, 
A  blessing  and  a  balm, 
An  angel  guide  and  guest ! 

I  come  to  thee  soul-sad, 

I  come  to  thee  for  cheer, 
Thy  sun  of  love  makes  glad, 

And  drives  away  the  drear ; 
I  come  with  darksome  thought, 

To  thee  so  full  of  light, 
A  magic  change  is  wrought, 

And  day  replaces  night ! 

I  come  to  thee,  my  wife, 

My  heart  is  lone  and  low, 
I  come  to  thee,  its  life, 

That  joy  may  overflow ; 
I  come  and  find  my  food, — 

Ambrosia  angels  eat ; 
And  stay  in  raptured  mood 

All  blessed  at  thy  feet ! 


I  come  with  empty  mind, 

As  winter  comes  to  spring, 
I  come  to  thee,  so  kind, 

And  thou  dost  fulness  bring ; 
I  breathe  thy  light  and  air, 

I  live  beneath  thy  smile, 
The  landscape  then  is  fair, 

And  garden  blooms  the  while  .' 


44 


Dear  wife,  I  come  to  thee, 
.  Because  thou  art  so  true, 
Because  thy  love  is  free, 

And  doth  my  love  renew. 
I  come  and  share  thy  heart, 

And  mingle  with  thy  life, 
No  more,  no  more  to  part, 

My  own  beloved  wife  ! 

The  bird  thus  seeks  its  nest, 

The  river  thus  the  sea, 
And  man  his  evening  rest, 

So  do  I  come  to  thee. 
The  flowers  thus  do  grow, 

The  stars  thus  sweetly  shine, 
And  all  my  heart  is  so  — 

Because  that  it  is  thine  ! 

The  Arab  loves  the  fount 

That  slakes  his  desert  thirst ; 
The  Swiss  the  Alpine  mount 

Where  freedom  came  at  first ; 
I  love  the  love  of  thee, 

My  darling  and  my  own, 
Thy  love  a  mighty  sea, 

Thy  faith,  my  heart's  great  throne  ! 

I  come  to  thee,  my  wife, 

In  seasons  dark  and  bright, 
And  sun  my  varied  life 

In  thy  eternal  light ; 
I  live  in  tropic  glow, 

An  island  in  the  sea, 
Round  which  the  waters  flow 

And  tell  thy  love  to  me ! 


45 


I  WOULD    NOT    STRIKE  THEE,  LOVE,  WITH 
FLOWERS. 

I  SPOKE  sharp  words  to  thee,  my  wife, 
Before  I  thought,  or  scarcely  knew, 
Then  turned  and  curst  my  bitter  life, 

Because  I  thus  impatient  grew  ; 
For  't  is  a  vile  and  evil  thing, 

When  anger  mars  this  life  of  ours, 
And  leaves  behind  its  poison  sting ; — 

I  would  not  strike  thee,  love,  with  flowers. 

I  would  not  strike  thee  —  no,  my  dear, 

Not  with  the  rose's  dewy  leaf, 
Or  draw  within  thine  eye  the  tear, 

The  trembling  tear  of  wounded  grief  ; 
Then,  how  it  came  I  cannot  tell, 

'T  was  one  of  folly's  foolish  dowers, 
But  O,  my  own,  believe  me  well, 

I  would  not  strike  thee,  love,  with  flowers. 

I  blame  myself  the  whole  day  long, 

As  captive  led  in  easy  thrall, 
To  break  the  music  of  our  song, 

By  words  I  would  at  once  recall  ; 
For  words  of  mine  should  cheer  and  bless, 

With  nature's  animating  powers, 
Should  soothe  and  help  with  fond  caress; — 

I  would  not  strike  thee,  love,  with  flowers. 

So  pray  forgive  my  heedless  haste, 

It  shall  not  e'er  occur  again  ; 
I  will  no  more  affection  waste, 

And  turn  its  wealth  of  joy  to  pain; 
I  '11  be  thy  friend,  thy  husband  dear, 

My  love  thy  soul's  enchanted  bowers, 
And  by  my  side  thou  shalt  not  fear, — 

I  would  not  strike  thee,  love,  with  flowers. 

No,  though  thy  faults  were  all  I  felt, 

And  weakness  were  at  times  thy  way, 
My  love  should  come  as  first  it  knelt, 

And  give  thee  strength  by  magic  sway ; 
I  have  no  right  thy  life  to  fret, 

And  spoil  thy  summer  sheen  with  showers ; 
But  I  must  shine  with  blessings  yet, 

NOT  strike  thee,  love,  not  e'en  with  flowers. 
46 


1  DREAMT  THY  LOVE  WAS  TRUE  IN 
HEAVEN. 

I  DREAMT  of  thee  last  night,  my  love, 
Amidst  the  fairest  scenes  of  heaven, 
I  thought  that  we  did  dwell  above, 

And  angel-life  to  us  was  given ; 
And  O,  delight  beyond  our  thought, 

Thou  wert  so  rich  in  grace  and  beauty, 
That  angels  came  and  presents  brought, 
And  gave  thee  them  in  simple  duty  ! 

At  first  I  joyed  to  see  this  sight, 

To  see  thy  worth  was  there  revealed, 
To  see  thy  flower  of  life  in  light, 

That  long  in  bud  had  been  concealed  ; 
'T  was  all  that  I  have  often  sought, 

To  see  thee  thus  in  highest  beauty ; 
And  angels  came  and  presents  brought, 

And  made  them  thine  in  simple  duty. 

And  thou  entranced  scarce  knew  thyself, 

The  glorious  scene  seemed  half  unreal, 
For  earth  was  lost  with  care  and  pelf,  . 

And  thou  hadst  reached  thy  fair  ideal : 
Now  thou  couldst  boast  of  every  grace, 

And  shine  as  fair  as  light  in  beauty ; 
And  angels  loved  to  see  thy  face, 

And  bend  to  thee  in  simple  duty. 

And  one  there  was  of  kingly  mien, 

That  came  to  thee  with  winning  gladness, 
As  though  he  wished  to  call  thee  queen, 

And  I  was  filled  with  fear  and  sadness ; 
He  knelt  to  thee  and  asked  thy  hand, 

Thy  hand  and  heart,  thy  life  and  beauty, 
And  angel  throngs  around  did  stand, 

And  smile  on  thee  with  loving  duty. 

I  thought  that  thou  wouldst  prove  untrue, 

And  leave  me  then  to  darkness  lonely, 
When  back  from  them  thy  spirit  drew, 

And  turned  and  clung  to  me,  me  only ; 
And  thou  didst  claim  me  thine  alone, 

And  give  to  me  thy  love  and  beauty, 
And  I  as  best  e'en  there  was  known, 

And  prized  more  dear  than  angel  duty ! 
47 


THOU    SHALT   BE"  FREE. 


IS  married  life  a  cage,  my  love, 
To  shut  thee  off  from  .fields  of  bliss ; 
To  stay  thy  wings  from  freedom's  flight, 

And  mar  the  happiness  of  this  ? 
O  God  forbid  that  e'er  thy  heart 

Should  feel  that  this  portrayed  thy  lot ; 
Nay,  sing  and  soar,  and  upward  dart, 
And  let  no  pleasure  be  forgot ! 


Xo  bars  shall  bear  thy  spirit  down, 

And  tame  thy  eagle  ways  so  grand ; 
No  wires  repress  the  free  fair  voice 

That  sang  in  gladness  o'er  the  land : 
Thou  art  thine  own  in  all  thy  pride, 

And  I  adore  and  love  thee  free ; 
Be  where  thou  wilt  thou  art  my  bride, 

And  I  am  true  to  love  and  thee  I 


48 


TO    HER   HUSBAND   IN   PRISON. 


DKAREST  husband,  know  I  love  thee  deep  as  yonder  sky, 
Know  my  love  can  never  fail,  affection  never  die  : 
Though  in  prison  thou  art  cast,  and  cannot  now  return, 
Still  my  soul  on  thee  reclines,  for  thee  my  feelings  burn. 
'T  is  impossible  to  break  what  are  no  bonds  to  me, 
All  impossible  to  sever  faith  that  clings  to  thee. 
Fate  has  made  us  one  in  ways  the  world  can  never  know, 
One,  as  water  bound  within  the  pure  white  heart  of  snow  : 
And  't  is  freedom  thus  to  recognize  thy  royal  rule, 
Educating  thee  and  me  in  wisdom's  highest  school : 
S  >  as  well  may  men  uproot  the  earth,  as  by  their  scorn, 
Deem  they'll  come  dividing  us,  because  thy  heart  doth  mourn. 
Xay,  I  feel  for  thee  far  more  than  e'er  I  felt  before. 
Prizing  thee  with  richer  strength  for  pining  sad  and  sore. 
Here  I  wait  thy  glad  release,  with  yearnings  deep  and  wild, 
Wait  thy  coming  home  to  wife,  and  thine  and  wife's  dear  child* 
Thou  shalt  come,  have  courage,  dear,  the  time  will  wear  away, 
Darkness  fade  in  morning  light,  and  usher  in  the  day ! 
Oh,  what  pleasures  then  will  visit  us,  in  that  sweet  hour, 
And  what  faded  friendships  bloom  again  in  silent  power  ! 
Cheer  up,  husband,  bravely  bear,  as  manhood  surely  may, 
Day  by  day  approaches  near  the  kind,  releasing  dayl 
Cheer  up,  for  the  failing  once  may  teach  thee  ne'er  to  fail, 
Ne'er  to  turn  from  honest  path,  that  now  our  hearts  bewail  1 
But  fret  not,  the  deed  is  clone,  the  past  is  ever  gone, 
Live  in  noble  present,  and  in  future  coming  on. 
There's  forgiveness  for  thee,  dear,  from  that  fair  sky  above ; 
Yes,  forgiveness  too,  from  men,  with  sympathy  and  love  ! 
Cheer,  my  husband,  pure  and  precious  art  thou  still  to  me; 
True  and  faithful  will  I  prove,  most  true  and  faithful  be  ! 
Blessings  on  thy  head,  with  fondest  prayer  do  I  implore. 
Coming  now  to  thee,  and  resting  there  forevermore. 
May  the  fire  devour  the  weed,  that  wasted  fields  in  bloom ; 
May  the  sweetest  summer  come  from  darkest  wintry  gloom  ! 
Love  me,  darling,  live  for  me,  be  brave  in  manly  life, 
Prison  doors  will  open  soon,  and  bring  thee  to  thy  wife  ! 


49 


I   THOUGHT  OF  THEE. 


I  WALKED  to-day  within  the  woods,  the  golden  sun  on  high, 
The  sea  to  fringe  the  landscape  lay  and  kist  the  autumn  sky  ; 
A  frosty  hardness  held  the  ground,  but  summer  filled  the  air, 
And  nature  breathed  from  earth  and  heaven  a  happy  atmosphere ; 
I  felt  the  world  was  great  and  good,  and  thrilled   with  sight  and 

sound ; 

I  saw  my  present  sphere  was  blest  with  grace  and  peace  profound  ; 
No  false  philosophy,  or  falser  sense  of  superstition's  sway, 
Came  near  me  then  to  mar  the  unsullied  brightness  of  the  day ; 
I  felt  I  was  a  man,  and  royal  manhood  filled  my  soul, 
And  faithful  feelings  came  to  me  with  nature's  high  control ; 
I  had  no  fear  of  dying,  for  eternity  was  mine, 
And  like  the  splendid  sun  my  soul  on  all  the  earth  did  shine : 
But  best  and  richest,  love,  was  my  delight  and  bliss  in  thee, 
And  prophecy  aud  parable  thence  rising,  I  could  see ! 


I  felt  that  times  like  this  had  hidden  meaning  to  the  eye ; 

That  earth  had  whisperings  to  the  sweet  entranced  and  listening 

sky; 

I  felt  that  nature  talked  her  great  divine  unseen  intents, 
And  by  this  break  of  clouds,  the  happy  end  of  all  events  : 
I  felt  she  made  a  promise  firm  as  everlasting  hills  and  sea, 
That  sometime,  somewhere,  we  should  meet  with  full  felicity ; 

5° 


And  that  she  plainly  kept  within  her  close  and  clear  regard, 
The  thought  to  mete  to  all  mankind  their  full  and  fair  reward  : 
I  thought  of  this,  and  thought  of  thee,  and  our  two  lives  so  strange, 
And  how  in  time  we  two  should  grow  from  glorious  change  to 

change ; 

I  thought  in  such  a  day  as  this  we  might  take  courage  clear, 
To  wait  the  slow  result  of  good  and  opening  of  the  year : 
O  deep  I  thought  of  thee  with  burning  thought  and  passion  pure, 
And  how  our  love  like  oak  should  grow,  and  like  the  earth  endure! 


I  thought  how  fair  it  was  we  twain  were  joined  as  one, 

How  glad  the  good  we  thence  from  that  far  height  look  down  upon  ; 

I  thought  how  sweet,  yet  rough,  our  trial  days  had  surely  been, 

How  blest  with  love  yet  mixt  with  undertones  of  sorrow's  sin; 

And  how  I  sought  to  be  to  thee  a  husband  brave  and  true, 

A  man  thy  soul  and  heart  would  love  as  he  before  thee  grew ; 

And  from  the  past  a  lesson  came  and  filled  me  with  delight, 

A  sense  of  love  and  glory  in  depth  and  beauty  infinite  ; 

I  felt  as  though  the  heavens  were  mine,  a  bliss  so  great  and  vast, 

The  splendor  of  thy  presence  sent  and  in  my  being  cast; 

And  purpose  wrought  within  my  soul  a  clinging  like  the  vine, 

And  love  around  thy  life  did  grow,  and  ivy-like  entwine ; 

I  love  thee  true  with  spirit  broad  and  inspiration  free, 

And  felt  God's  blessing  come  complete  in  thinking  thus  of  thee ! 


I  vowed  to  live  the  life  this  grand  inbreathing  to  me  gave ; 

To  be  my  better  self  in  all  its  yearnings  high  and  brave, 

To  do  whate'er  I  could  to  aid  thy  growth,  thy  love,  thy  life, 

And  make  thy  part  an  easy  joy  as  my  beloved  wife ; 

That  I  would  serve  thee  true  with  wisdom,  tenderness,  and  care, 

And  all  my  gains  with  thee  in  glad  affection  freely  share; 

That  I  would  shine  and  shower  on  thee  my  heart's  divinest  good, 

And  feed  thee  from  my  sacred  soul  and  spirit's  purest  blood ; 

That  man  and  wife  we  sure  should  be,  and  just  to  each  and  each; 

And  live  as  nature  meant  and  all  the  ages  try  to  teach ; 

That  merging  here  as  one,  no  changing  future  e'er  should  part, 

For  what  is  death  to  living  souls,  and  graves  to  loving  heart  ? 

We  live  as  one  as  long  as  rolling  ages  breathe  and  be : 

So  fair,  so  true,  so  strong,  so  full  of  hope,  I  thought  of  thee  ! 


S1 


O   THINK   OF   ME   AS    AT   MY    BEST. 


I  SAW  a  scene  engirt  with  light, 
The  hills  were  fresh  and  fair, 
The  valleys  robed  in  beauty  bright, 

And*  balm  was  in  the  air  : 
Where'er  I  roam  that  picture  sweet 

Sheds  light  upon  my  way, 
And  is  the  happiest  sight  I  greet, 

As  pilgrim-like  I  stray  : — 
So,  darling,  would  I  have  you  see, 

Far  in  the  past  a  scene  of  rest ; 
And  when  you  think,  my  love  of  me, 

O  think  of  me  as  at  mv  best ! 


The  patriot  exiled  from  his  home, 

And  dwelling  o'er  the  sea, 
Although  in  sorrow  he  must  roam, 

At  heart  may  happy  be; 
If  he  can  bear  within  his  mind, 

A  promise  of  the  past, 
Wherein  his  country  is  enshrined 

And  held  in  freedom  fast :  — 
So,  darling,  would  I  have  you  see, 

My  image  burning  in  your  breast ; 
And  when  you  think,  my  love,  of  me, 

O  think  of  me  as  at  my  best ! 

52 


?Tis  told  of  soldiers  in  the  field, 

Who  fought  as  warriors  can; 
Who  made  the  foe  like  weaklings  yield, 

And  ever  led  the  van  ; 
That  when  they  failed  in  after  days 

In  doing  duty  well, 
Their  chiefs  remembered  former  praise, 

And  faith  for  faults  would  tell : — 
So,  darling,  would  I  have  you  see 

Some  nobleness  my  worth  attest; 
And  when  you  think  my  love,  of  me, 

O  think  of  me  as  at  my  best ! 


The  martyrs  old  in  daily  round, 

Might  fall  in  sins  like  mine  ; 
Mat  when  their  life  with  death  was  crowned, 

Their  virtues  far  would  shine  ; 
Whate'er  they  lacked  in  that  bright  deed, 

Was  then  for  them  made  good ; 
From  spot  aud  speck  their  names  were  freed, 

And  first  in  story  stood ; — 
So,  darling,  would  I  have  you  see 

My  name  with  goodness  blest ; 
And  when  you  think,  my  love,  of  me, 

O  think  of  me  as  at  mv  best ! 


It  is  so  easy  seeing  blame 

As  on  our  way  we  go ; 
But  see  in  me  heroic  name, 

And  thus  my  features  know ; 
Hide  all  my  lack  in  blaze  of  clay, 

By  light  that  drowns  the  drear ; 
And  let  my  form  be  fresh  and  gay, 

As  springtime  morns  appear  : — 
So,  darling,  would  I  have  you  see 

My  soul  in  beauty  drest ; 
And  when  you  think,  my  love,  of  me, 

( )  think  of  me  as  at  my  best ! 


53 


I    LOVE   THEE. 


I  LOVE  thee,  dear,  my  own,  all  mine, 
With  warm  poetic  sense  of  love, 
With  tender  twining  like  the  vine  ; 

Or  passion  like  the  turtle  dove. 
I  love  thee  as  the  flowers  the  light, 

And  as  the  summer  fields  the  rain ; 
As  stars  that  love  and  kiss  the  night, 

And  birds  that  love  their  own  sweet  strain  ! 
I  love  thee  as  the  brook  the  sea, 

And  eagles  love  the  broad,  deep  sky  ; 
As  patriots  love  their  country  free, 

As  martyrs  that  for  faith  will  die  ! 
I  love  thee  as  we  love  sweet  song, 

And  music-breathing  holy  fire  ; 
And  children  free  from  care  and  wrong, 

And  heroes  great  in  bold  desire  ! 


Nay,  more  of  love  is  mine  than  these, 

It  is  a  love  unfelt  beside  ; 
A  love  unfelt  for  flowers  and  trees, 

Or  aught  but  thee,  my  own  dear  bride  ! 
I  love  thee  with  a  special  care, 

A  gift  divine  for  thee  alone  ; 
A  love  my  heart  can  never  spare, 

While  life  and  love  to  it  are  known  ! 
'T  is  born  for  thee,  I  truly  say, 

And  gathers  strength  each  passing  hour  ; 
It  widens  on  its  steady  way, 

As  rivers  seeking  ocean's  bower ! 
As  kings  that  spread  their  conquests  wide, 

Till  all  the  earth  is  their  domain ; — 
So  comes  this  love  for  thee,  my  bride, 

And  empire  vast  of  love  doth  gain ! 

54 


There  is  but  one  extent  of  space, 

Wherein  the  worlds  abide  and  be  ; 
And  in  one  field  of  time  we  trace 

The  history  of  humanity  : 
And  so  my  love  for  thee  is  one, 

Ten  thousand  joys  within  it  move ; 
The  varied  states  of  life  pass  on, 

Its  boundless  length  and  depth  to  prove  ! 
It  shines  a  sun  in  happy  sphere, 

With  promise  true  beyond  all  time ; 
It  swallows  up  the  far  and  near, 

In  God's  eternity  sublime  ! 
Death  stands  before  it  pale  and  weak, 

And  ages  bring  it  gifts  of  gold ; 
Whate'er  our  souls'  high  hopes  may  seek, 

This  love  of  ours  at  last  will  fold  ! 


I  love  thee,  dear,  then  hear  me  say, 

Believe  it  strong  as  holy  writ ; 
Believe  it  in  thy  own  sweet  way, 

As  thou,  my  love,  art  sure  of  it ! 
Drink  draughts  of  nectar  like  the  gods ; 

Be  like  the  clouds  the  moon  shines  through : 
Burst  out  in  bloom  like  summer  sods  ; 

Let  all  the  world  thy  beauty  woo  : 
Move  on  in  splendor  like  the  sea ; 

Gleam  down  like  yond  galaxy  bright ; 
My  love  bestows  her  life  on  thee, 

And  love  is  life's  immortal  might ! 
Take  vast  possession  of  the  earth ; 

Take  hold  on  all  that  heaven  can  give  : 
Our  love  from  God's  own  self  had  birth ; 

Our  lives  and  loves  in  Him  shall  live ! 


55 


DEAR    AND    MORE    DEAR. 


YES,  dear  art  thou  to  all  my  soul, 
And  dearer  every  moving  day; 
As  stars  around  their  centre  roll, 

So  does  my  heart  thy  power  obey  : 
I  find  myself  within  thy  grasp, 

And  held  with  strong  attracting  ties ; 
As  our  great  sun  the  orbs  doth  clasp, 

And  keep  them  in  the  glorious  skies : 
So  am  I  kept  by  thy  high  love, 
So  am  I  blest  like  stars  above ! 


Each  day,  I  said,  the  feeling  grew, 

Each  moment  rather  adds  its  gain, 
And  gives  our  hearts  some  treasures  true, 

That  all  the  years  with  joy  retain  ; 
We  grow  to  see  the  worth  of  life, 

In  subtle  ways  of  wisdom  hid  ; 
And  come  like  champions  from  its  strife, 

As  all  the  ancient  warriors  did ; 
And  thus  our  days  the  dearer  shine, 
And  bless  and  hold  thy  life  and  mine  ! 


I  think  't  is  glorious  we  are  one, 

That  God  has  given  each  to  each ; 
That  we  shall  live  and  love  right  on, 

And  all  the  heights  of  love-life  reach ! 
Our  babe  has  brought  us  more  of  love, 

And  filled  the  future  with  his  sheen ; 
Amid  the  trees  there  sings  our  dove, 

While  bloom  the  flowers  and  grass  grows  green 
This  pleasure  sent  expands  our  hearts, 
And  dearer  joys  to  us  imparts ! 

56 


\Vhcti  even  first  begins  to  dawn, 

Few  are  the  lights  that  gleam  on  high ; 
But  one  by  one,  like  bounding  fawn, 

They  come  and  range  the  spreading  sky  ;- 
So  fully  come  the  powers  of  light, 

That  burn  within  my  breast  for  thee, 
And  now  the  dark  is  golden  bright, 

As  fields  of  stars  thine  eyes  may  see ; 
For  thus  have  I,  my  love-life  given, 
To  light  thy  soul,  as  stars  the  heaven  ! 


The  seed  has  grown  and  burst  in  grace, 

That  tender  hands  in  Eden  set ; 
It  sheds  its  sweets,  and  shows  its  face, 

With  all  the  clews  of  Hermon  wet ; 
Let  all  th#  winds  in  kindness  blow, 

Let  soothing  showers  like  peace  descend ; 
And  summer  still  with  joy  o'erflow 

While  angels  come  this  flower  to  tend; 
For  dear  as  death  that  leads  to  life, 
Is  this  swe.et  love  to  me,  my  wife  ! 


I  would  my  heart  could  bless  thy  heart 

With  all  it  feels  as  due  and  meet ; 
It  would  wide  worlds  of  love  impart, 

And  with  intensest  gladness  greet!  — 
Nor  earth  should  own  a  joy  not  thine, 

Nor  heaven  retain  a  bliss  from  thee  ; 
Thy  life  should  be  with  love  divine, 

Our  lives  with  God's  glad  truth  made  free : 
And  thus  I  feel  the  future  will, 
Our  hopes,  and  aims,  and  prayers  fulfil ! 


57 


AFTER   A    BALL. 

I'VE  left  the  music's  witching  sound, 
The  dancing  circles  bright  and  gay ; 
I  watched  them  waltzing  round  and  round, 
And  thought  of  thee  so  far  away. 

I  heard  the  fall  of  fairy  feet, 
And  gazed  on  faces  fond  and  fair, 

Their  loveliness  had  been  most  sweet, 
But  thou,  my  darling,  wert  not  there  ; — 

And  so  I  felt  a  touch  of  pain, 
A  weariness  no  words  express, 

And  turned  from  all  with  cold  disdain, 
To  think  of  thee,  and  thee  to  bless ! 

0  if  the  world  could  give  its  bliss,  * 
And  say —  "  now  take  thy  largest  fill ;  " 

And  I  thy  presence  yet  must  miss, 

The  bliss  would  fade,  or  torment  still : — 

For  I  avow  I  could  not  live 

In  Heaven  itself,  all  bright  as  day; 

Nor  take  what  angels  there  would  give, 
If  thou,  my  love,  shouldst  be  away ! 

1  must  have  thee  as  all  in  all, 

My  love's  supreme  delight  and  thought ; 
For  thee  to  bless  and  cheer  I  call, 
And  by  thy  spirit  must  be  sought ! 

Then  seek  me  out,  my  precious  love, 
If  mingling  now  with  crowds  or  lone ; 

Come,  fly  to  me  like  Noah's  dove, 
And  make  thy  happy  tidings  known ! 

I  anxious  wait  and  pray  for  thee, 
O  come  and  bring  me  lasting  peace ; 

O  far-off  ship  on  stormy  sea, 

To  shipwrecked  sailor  bring  release  ; — 

And  take  me  hence  from  this  dark  isle, 
Though  like  a  gem  to  some  it  seems  ; 

O  take  me  home  to  thy  sweet  smile, 

And  wrap  me  round  with  sunny  dreams ! 
58 


Thou  art  my  fair  and  only  one  ; 

Thou  art  my  music's  witching  spell ; 
And  o'er  thee  still  the  stars  sing  on, 

And  heaven  and  angels  with  thee  dwell ! 


And  could  it  be  that  I  could  touch 

The  trembling  hand  that  were  not  mine ; 

Forsake  my  own  and  think  of  such, 
And  revel  there  on  ruby  wine  ? 

That  I  could  bend  with  winsome  smiles 
To  catch  the  light  of  fiery  eyes ; 

And  bandy  words  and  fond  beguiles, 
And  wit  that  in  this  circle  lies  ? 

That  I  could  deem  myself  as  blest, 
To  be  the  fool  of  fortune's  show ; 

To  be  the  lion  all  carest, 

That  may  at  last  forsaken  go  ? 

Ah,  no!  my  mind  rejects  the  thought, 
And  holds  its  simple  image  —  sin ; 

True  love  by  shadows  is  not  caught, 
Or  glad  at  heart  with  childish  din. 

The  morning-glories  by  our  door 
Are  richer  far  than  gardens  fair ; 

And  our  poor  home,  though  twice  as  poor, 
More  beautiful  than  mansions  rare  ! 

The  splendor  of  thy  eyes  more  bright 
Than  all  the  orbs  that  gild  the  sky ; 

The  music  of  thy  step  so  light, 
It  seems  a  fairy  blest  passed  by  ! 

Thy  form  to  me  surpasses  all, 
However  clad  in  silk  and  lace ; 

The  rapture  of  thy  sweet  love-call, 
The  tenderness  of  angel-grace. 

And  so  my  heart  retains  thee  yet, 
And  could  not  wish  abroad  to  roam  ; 

With  thee  doth  rise,  with  thee  shall  set, 
The  golden  sun  that  makes  our  home  ! 

59 


'TIS  NEVER  WINTER  IN  THE  HEART 


'*"  I  ^  IS  never  winter  in  the  heart 
-L  So  long  as  love  is  there ; 

Let  snow  and  sleet  around  us  dart, 
The  inner  life  keeps  fair. 

We  brave  the  cold  and  have  no  fear, 
We  face  the  storm  with  glee, 

For  love  sustains  with  summer  cheer, 
And  courage  bold  and  free. 

The  wilderness  is  never  ours, 
The  bleak  and  barren  plain  ; 

We  tread  a  land  of  tropic  flowers, 
And  in  their  bowers  remain. 

The  fragrance  that  regaled  in  Spring, 
The  bloom  that  came  in  May, 

The  happy  songs  the  birds  did  sing, 
Possess  our  hearts  to-day. 

We  know  no  change  the  seasons  round, 

No  tempest  dark  and  drear, 
The  land  of  love  our  souls  have  found, 

And  summer  all  the  year ! 


60 


LOVE   TO    THE    LOVEJ). 

MY  wife,  my  wife,  I  call  thy  name, 
And  thousand  memories  answer  sweet, 
And  sparkle  out  in  beauteous  flame, 
As  stars  the  gorgeous  even  greet. 

I  name  thy  name  so  richly  dear, 

And  straight  from  desolation  fly, 
I  mount  aloft  without  a  fear, 

And  soar  to  thee,  my  golden  sky. 

I  speed  away  from  earth  and  time 
And  am  a  sprite  with  airy  wings ; 

Removed  at  once  to  place  sublime, 
Where  perfect  peace  her  poesy  sings. 

Tell  not  of  lotus-leaves  to  eat, 
Or  aught  the  foolish  Eastern  craves, 

I  need  but  think  of  thee,  my  sweet, 
And  out  I  float  on  sunlit  waves. 

Thy  love  so  fair  and  deep  transports 

My  soul  afar  with  frenzy  wild, 
I  reach  again  the  old  resorts 

So  freely  loved  by  me,  a  child. 

I  know  we  must  eternal  be, 

Or  else  there  were  no  gift  like  this; 

No  time-made  heart  such  wealth  could  see, 
No  fleeting  soul  such  sense  of  bliss  ! 

Our  happiness  is  round  and  clear, 
And  perfect  like  the  harvest  moon, 

And  rich  as  sun  doth  it  appear, 

That  beams  so  bright  at  summer  noon  ! 

The  birds  that  wend  to  secret  bowers 

With  beating  breast  to  breathe  their  love, 

Have  not  more  rich,  transporting  hours, 
Than  when  to  thee  I  fondly  rove. 

And  not  the  flowers  of  earliest  Spring 
That  welcome  wake  to  drink  *he  light, 

In  gratitude  more  fragrance  fling, 
Than  I,  to  see  thy  love  in  sight. 
61 


I  have  no  words  my  joy  to  tell, 

My  heart  is  thine,  is  thine  complete ; 

I  know  thee  true,  I  trust  thee  well, 
I  know  and  love  thee,  sweetest  sweet ! 

And  what  were  all  this  life  of  mine, 
If  I  had  failed  thy  love  to  own  ? 

In  vain  for  me  the  sun  would  shine, 
And  knowledge  place  her  royal  throne. 

The  earth  is  bare  of  every  good, 

When  robbed  of  love  and  love's  desire, 

Is  crossed  with  sorrow's  darkling  mood, 
Till  we  in  melancholy  lone  expire  :  — 

And  so  eternal  love  has  sent 
To  human  hearts  the  sense  of  love, 

Whereby  we  grow  in  glad  content, 
And  share  the  peace  of  souls  above. 

I  have  this  peace,  this  holy  sense, 
It  comes  from  thee,  my  noble  wife, 

My  wife,  indeed,  with  no  pretence, 
My  light  of  light,  my  life  of  life ! 

0  sweet  it  is  to  live  this  calm, 

This  trusting  faith  and  holy  peace, 
Enjoying  life  with  no  alarm, 
Enjoying  life  that  cannot  cease. 

But  not  alone  in  dreamy  ease, 

As  poet  dreams  in  June's  sweet  ray, 

Can  this  thy  love  my  soul-life  please, 
But  day-life  bless  in  worldly  day. 

In  times  of  saddest  gloom  and  thought, 

I  find  thy  inspiration  true, 
A  power  the  soldier  never  sought, 

A  joy  the  victor  never  knew. 

1  find  thy  soul  my  soul  entrance, 
And  fill  with  courage  martyr  brave, 

And  lead  me  on  with  stern  advance. 
Where  trophies  bright  in  beauty  wave. 

No  coward  thought  dare  cross  my  mind, 
No  meanness  dwell  beneath  thy  gaze, 

For  thou  art  first  of  womankind, 
And  guiding  like  a  beacon  blaze. 
62 


I  know  thou  art  my  own  indeed, 
A  claim  eterne  my  soul  can  make ; 

Mv  own  for  joy,  my  own  for  need, 

My  own  for  love  and  love's  dear  sake. 

Our  lives  are  cast  in  one  clear  course, 
Pursuing  still  the  one  sweet  way, 

As  streams  unite  with  loving  force, 
And  on  to  wooing  ocean  stray  ! 

I  ne'er  can  cease  to  feel  this  spell, 
And  own  this  blest,  enraptured  state  ; 

Behind,  before,  our  life  is  well, — 
Is  well  to  thee  and  me,  my  mate. 

In  life  or  death  we  clasp  our  hands, 
We  onward  move,  and  never  part, 

For  round  us  still  this  beauty  stands, 
Uniting  heart  to  loving  heart. 

0  kiss  me,  love,  let  rain  thy  tears, 
Let  joyousness  enthral  our  frame  ; 

Drive  far  away  the  foolish  fears, 
That  timidness  desired  to  name  : 

And  let  us  live  in  this  repose, 

This  perfect  sense  that  crowns  the  day  ; 
Let  Heaven  around  us  sweetly  close, 

While  we  within  its  bosom  stay. 

1  trust  in  thee,  I  live  in  thee, 

Thou  art  my  wife  for  time  and  death, 
Thou  art  my  wife  in  love-bonds  free, 
For  all  my  soul's  unceasing  breath. 

0  clasp  me  close  in  arms  that  bind, 
O  kiss  me  sweet  with  dewy  lips, 

Our  heaven  is  here  and  not  behind. 
And  now  our  love  of  nectar  sips. 

1  melt  in  thee  as  dew  in  dew ; 
O  ever  let  the  sun  shine  on, 

His  strength  may  wane,  but  ours  is  true, 
In  earth  or  Heaven  our  love  is  one ! 

63 


GOOD-BYE  ! 


GOOD-BYE,  my  love,  't  is  time  to  part. 
Yet  sweet  the  moments  fled, 
And  now  it  almost  breaks  my  heart, 

As  thus  good-bye  is  said. 
Good-bye,  my  love,  I  leave  thee  now, 

With  keenest  pangs  of  death, 
And  cling  to  thee,  thou  knowest  how, 

As  life  to  her  own  breath  ; 
I  cling  to  thee,  yet  needs  must  hie, 
So  darling  love,  my  own,  good-bye ! 

Good-bye,  my  love,  thy  image  clear 

I  take  where'er  I  go ; 
Thy  constant  faith  and  friendship  dear, 

I  shall  forever  know ! 
I  find  thee  near  my  side  for  aye, 

As  here  and  there  I  roam, 
Thy  angel  presence  cheers  the  way, 

And  leads  me  back  to  home  ; 
But  now  from  thee  I  needs  must  hie, 
So  darling,  love,  my  own,  good-bye  f 

Good-bye,  my  love,  we  meet  again, 

The  parting  hour  will  fly, 
And  joy  will  come  to  conquer  pain, 

And  meeting  heal  good-bye. 
Then  let  the  faith  we  bear  for  each 

Come  blessing  this  sad  hour, 
And  surest  hope  and  trusting  teach, 

And  love's  unfailing  power  ; 
Thus  let  our  hearts  find  comfort  nigh, 
As  lips  repeat  —  good-bye,  good-bye  ! 


LIFE. 


Now  first  I  know  the  meaning 
And  feel  the  power  of  life. 

Lizzie  Doten. 

O  beautiful  unfathomably 

Its  little  life  unfurled  ; 
And  crown  of  all  things  was  our  wee 

White  Rose  of  all  the  world. 

Gerald  Massey. 

These  struggling  tides  of  life  that  seem, 

In  wayward  aimless  course  to  tend, 
Are  eddies  of  the  mighty  stream 

That  rolls  to  its  appointed  end. 

William  Cullen  Bryant. 

Then  if  we  enjoy  life,  why,  the  next  thing  to  do 
Is  to  see  that  another  enjoys  his  life  too. 

Charles  Swain. 

My  heart's  religion  is  an  earnest  love 

Of  all  that's  good,  and  beautiful,  and  true ! 

John  Critchley  Prince. 

Life  shall  on  and  upward  go; 

The  eternal  step  of  progress  beats 
To  that  great  anthem,  calm  and  slow, 

Which  God  repeats. 

John  Greenleaf  Whittier. 

I  love  not  man  the  less,  but  nature  more, 
From  these  our  interviews,  in  which  I  steal 
From  all  I  may  be,  or  have  been  before, 
To  mingle  with  the  universe,  and  feel 
What  I  can  ne'er  express,  yet  cannot  all  conceal. 

Byron. 

To  apprehend  thus 
Draws  us  a  profit  from  all  things  we  see. 

Shakspeare. 

'Tis  life,  whereof  our  nerves  are  scant, 
Oh  life,  not  death,  for  which  we  pant; 
More  life,  and  fuller,  that  I  want. 

Tennyson. 


I    BLESS  THEE,  FATHER,  THAT    I    LIVE. 


O  FATHER  of  the  human  race, 
From  whence  we  come,  in  whom  we  move, 
I  bless  thy  name  with  glowing  grace, 
That  I  the  bliss  of  life  can  prove  : 
My  frame  is  glad,  and  every  nerve, 

That  thou  this  gift  to  me  didst  give, 
That  I  with  life  thy  life  may  serve  ;  — 
I  bless,  thee,  Father,  that  I  live  ! 


From  fairy  youth,  with  Heaven  around  ; 

From  boyish  days,  with  wonder  blest ; 
From  manhood  fair,  I  late  have  found, 

I  gather  goodness,  peace  and  rest ! 
My  failings  fade,  the  faults  decline, 

And  thou  dost  added  blessings  give  ; 
I  find  my  life  is  all  divine, 

And  bless  thee,  Father,  that  I  live ! 

66 


In  all  my  woes  a  joy  has  been ; 

In  all  my  weakness  growing  strength ; 
And  sense  of  justice  followed  sin, 

And  drew  my  soul  to  thee,  at  length ! 
I  've  sought  thy  face  with  fervor  deep, 

And  asked  that  thou  wouldst  comfort  give ; 
And  now  thy  love  I  largely  reap, 

And  bless  thee,  Father,  that  I  live ! 

Full  many  fears  I  've  known  and  passed, 

With  foolish  thoughts  of  Thee  and  men  ; 
And  made  complaint  my  lot  was  cast 

Like  Daniel's,  in  the  lion's  den : — 
But  after  thought  and  light  from  thee, 

Which  thou  abundantly  didst  give, 
Removed  the  darkness  far  from  me, 

And  made  me  glad  that  I  do  live  ! 

I  live  in  this,  thy  world,  O  God, 
And  find  an  Eden  still  remains ; 

The  good  of  earth  this  garden  trod, 

And  gathered  here  their  precious  gains ; 

And  other  realms  ope  out  from  this, 
That  thou  to  this  dost  gracious  give ; 

0  God,  my  heart  is  full  of  bliss, 
And  must  rejoice  that  I  do  live ! 

1  live  to  praise  thy  name  in  life  ; 
To  work  thy  will  as  best  I  may ; 

To  toil  with  hope  'mid  sin  and  strife, 
And  love  the  toil  and  life  of  day ; 

The  night  of  death  shall  hush  the  now, 
And  larger  life  in  morning  give  ; 

Thy  blessing  rests  on  heart  and  brow, 
O  God,  I  bless  thy  name  I  live  1 


67 


THE   WAY    OF   LIFE. 


I  THOUGHT  to  choose  my  walk  of  life, 
My  trade,  my  friends,  and  all  I  do ; 
To  seek  pure  peace,  to  shun  dark  strife, 
At  will  to  talk  or  turn  from  you  ! 

I  thought  I  could  my  way  discern, 
That  I  should  be  my  heart's  desire, 

And  gain  the  heights  for  which  I  yearn, 
The  good  for  which  I  strong  aspire  ! 

J  thought  all  this  in  simple  mood, 

As  though  the  world  were  full  of  calm, 

Without  the  least  solicitude, 
Or  sense  of  sin  or  fear  of  harm ! 

0  foolish  youth  that  thus  will  think, 
Expecting  thus  thine  own  pet  will, 

The  fates  are  armed,  and  he  will  sink 
That  cannot  dare  and  battle  still ! 

Our  life  is  not  a  scene  of  peace, 
Of  ease  and  comfort,  day  by  day  ; 

Rut  one  broad  field  where  wars  increase, 
And  fiercer  yet  becomes  the  fray ! 

And  changing  fortune  must  be  ours  — 
Now  sailing  sweet,  now  tempest  tost  ; 

Now  winter  snows,  now  summer  flowers, 
Now  pleasant  gales,  now  biting  frost ! 

But  all  will  work  the  glorious  end, 
Our  life  in  prophecy  doth  hold ; 

For  all  creation  is  our  friend, 
And  will  in  love  our  life  enfold  ! 

And  so  I  have  no  fears  for  life, 

'T  is  granted  now,  and  will  remain ; 

1  take  it  all  or  peace  or  strife, 

And  thank  my  God,  for  it  is  gain  ! 


68 


LEAN    ON  YOURSELF. 


D<  >X'T  lean  too  much  on  others, 
Along  the  way  of  life  ; 
Take  men  to  be  your  brothers, 
But  face  yourself  the  strife ; 
And  live  to  be  a  hero, 

And  win  your  way  alone ; 
Seek  not  for  others'  favor, 
But  see  you  have  your  own  ! 

Don't  lean  on  help  and  smiling, 

Your  friends  may  give  to  you, 
And  wait  their  false  beguiling  ; 

To  say  what  you  will  do ; 
But  up  and  work  with  vigor, 

And  do  the  best  you  may, 
Sow  seed,  and  all  the  seasons 

Will  bring  the  harvest  day! 

Don't  lean  on  those  who  flatter, 

But  lean  on  your  own  might ; 
Their  smile  's  a  little  matter, 

Let  goodness  be  your  light ; 
And  do  all  you  may  hope  for, 

And  strive  as  manhood  ought, 
Then  you  shall  have  true  glory, 

And  all  your  patience  sought ! 


69 


LIFE'S    BEST. 


IT  were  a  gift  if  we  might  live  life's  best  — 
Obey  the  highest  rule  that  safe  would  guide  ; 

And  in  the  right,  like  Truth  herself  abide ; 
And  in  the  wise  like  elder  sages  rest ; 
And  stand  like  martyrs  old  the  fiery  test ! 

O  might  we  live  as  heroes  reverenced  wide, 

And  still  be  true,  whatever  might  betide. 
Then  were  we  all  in  all  with  comfort  blest, 
But  woe  on  woe,  we  serve  as  vassals  base ; 

We  bow  and  cringe  to  wrong,  and  shame  the  right : 
We  lie  from  day  to  day,  with  smiling  face  ; 

And  serve  the  golden  calf  with  all  our  might ; 
Distract  ourselves  in  life  with  doubt  and  din, 
And  walk,  half  loving,  half  in  fear  of  sin  ! 


THE   WORTH  OF  LIFE. 


I  have  no  words  to  tell  the  worth  of  life  ; 
Xo  image  poesy  can  in  love  express  ;  — 

It  is  a  hidden  depth  of  loveliness  ; — 
A  noble  scene  of  changing  peace  and  strife, — 
The  mingled  strength  and  grace  of  man  and  wife, 

Where  we  the  soul  in  early  garments  dress; — 

Have  times  of  folly  growing  less  and  less, 
Till  we  for  fields  above  with  worth  are  rife  ! 
I  have  no  blame  for  aught  thus  wisely  sent, 

Since  all  is  one  pure  good,  like  sun  and  shade  ; 
The  dark  with  light,  by  master-mind  is  blent ; 

The  bad  to  aid  the  good  was  surely  made  : 
And  so  I  take  with  joy  the  life  of  earth, 
And  wait  in  heaven  till  higher  Heaven  has  birth ! 


70 


LIFE'S    PURPOSE. 


WE  talk  with  idle  breath  of  life  and  men, 
We  scarcely  know  the  purpose  why  we  live  - 
It  cannot  be  the  reason  trite  we  give, 

And  speak  with  fluent  tongue  and  ready  pen ; 

We  needs  must  search  life's  meaning  out  again, 
And  pass  our  whys  and  wherefores  through  a  sieve, 
And  learn  to  be  in  choice  renunciative, 

And  from  thus  quering  life  its  purpose  ken ! 

But  all  our  days  pass  by  and  life  is  done, 

Then  we  exclaim  —  "  I  read  the  mystery  clear  !  " 

But  lo !  we  die  to  think  the  secret  won, 

And  leave  no  word  to  those  remaining  here  : 
God  baffles  us  and  lets  us  spend  life's  year, 

To  show  that  now  our  life  is  but  begun ! 


NOBLE    LIVES. 


THE  earth  has  men  of  noble  mould  and  mien, 
So  born,  so  bred,  so  living  night  and  day, 

Who  honor's  code  in  honest  faith  obey  ; 
Such  men  at  times  my  gladdened  eyes  have  seen, 
And  from  them  came  a  light  and  love  serene  ; 

Moon-like  they  move  to  hold  us  still  in  sway, 

They  lead,  and  then  we  follow  in  their  way, 
And  ever  after  keep  their  memory  green  ! 
()  men  are  great  when  thus  they  live  and  die, 

When  thus  they  show  their  kinship  with  the  good; 
When  thus  they  live  on  earth  as  in  the  sky, 

And  teach  us  all  we  might,  and  could,  and  should : 
They  breathe  a  fragrance  like  the  opening  rose, 
They  shed  a  glory  as  when  day  doth  close  ! 


IF   WE. 


IF  we  could  only  dare  to  live  right  on, 
Severely  noble,  steady,  trusty,  true, 

As  heart,  and  soul,  and  mind,  instinctive  knew, 
All  sorrow,  sadness,  fear,  regret,  were  gone, 
None  then  would  have  to  suffer  ;  no,  not  one, 

For  God  thus  upward  soul  and  spirit  drew, 

That  they  their  beauty  might  renew, 
And  lack  or  failing  might  be  known  to  none. 
But  O,  we  swerve  from  this  our  whole  life  long, 

We  barter  known  for  what,  perchance,  may  be, 
We  take  the  make-believe  of  sin  and  wrong, 

Tho'  all  their  woful  end  we  plainly  see, 
We  err,  we  stumble,  fall  and  come  to  grief, 
Yet  if  we  would  but  see,  there  is  relief ! 


IF   BUT. 


IF  but  a  little  more  of  joy  were  ours, 
If  but  a  little  more  of  wealth  and  gain. 

If  but  a  little  less  of  care  and  pain, 
Our  lives  were  blest  as  summer  birds  and  flowers, 
Were  rich  as  are  the  fruitful  autumn  bowers, 

And  we  could  well  this  happy  lot  maintain, 

And  here  in  immortality  remain, 
Rejoicing  still  with  pleasant  sun  and  showers. 
If  but  —  Ah !  "  if  "  and  "  but "  have  well  been  said, 

'Tis  sad  that  this  "if  but"  should  always  be, 
For  by  this  "  if  "  to  waste  our  lives  were  led. 

And  by  this  "  but "  a  will-o'-vvisp  we  see ; 
If  but  we  knew  how  foolish  our  complaint, 
We  still  might  live  as  hero,  sage,  and  saint ! 


72 


RESOLVE ! 


RESOLVE  for  Truth, 
Nor  spare  the  cost,— 
The  heat  of  youth, 

And  age's  frost, — 
Resolve  lest  both  be  lost, — 
Resolve  for  Truth ! 


Resolve  for  Life 

With  manhood  blest, 
'Mid  worldly  strife, 

Or  social  rest; 
Resolve  and  do  thy  best, — 

Resolve  for  Life ! 


Resolve  for  Death 

Right  nobly  won, 
Heaven's  blissful  breath, 

Earth  labor  done ; 
Resolve,  nor  seek  to  shun,- 

Resolve  for  Death! 


73 


DREAM  AND  LOSS  OF  DREAM. 


IN  the  dawn  I  had  work  and  a  vast  desire, 
Intent  and  devotion  adoring  and  true, 
And  ray  heart  was  ablaze  with  her  hope-felt  fire, 

And  the  glorious  future  her  fond  fancy  drew. 
But  what  have  I  done  in  the  years  and  the  years  ? 

'Tis  vain  as  the  shifting  of  shadows,  I  ween  ; 
And  my  eyes  are  aflow  with  fountains  of  tears, 

To  have  dreamed,  to  have  seen,  and  lose  what  was  seen  ! 


'T  was  then  that  my  garden  grew  fair  with  the  flowers, 

And  I  heard  the  love-lips  administer  praise  ; 
And  I  saw  the  gay  sunshine  give  gold  to  the  hours, 

While  summer  made  happy  the  long  nights  and  days. 
And  my  young  heart  replied,  and  said, — This  is  well ; 

There  is  nothing  to  mar,  endanger,  or  dim ; — 
In  this  paradise  fair  forever  I  '11  dwell, 

And  sing  with  glad  nature  her  sweet  choral  hymn ! 


74 


Ah  I  I  pictured  a  love  like  the  light  of  the  skies, 

And  a  heart  as  deep  as  the  far  hidden  sea ; 
Bewitched  was  my  soul  with  the  gleam  of  her  eyes, 

And  her  ways  so  lovesoine,  and  queen-like,  and  free  ! 
'T  was  again  the  old  idyl  of  Eden  for  earth  ; 

'T  was  again  the  full  future  made  real  and  fair ; 
'Twas  again  the  abundance  of  might  and  mirth, 

And  the  ceasing  of  sorrow,  vexation  and  care ! 

But  foolish  and  vain  are  the  visions  that  were, 

And  sad  with  the  present  illusions  that  live ; 
For  the  king  there  's  the  cross  with  its  wine  and  myrrh, 

And  the  curse  our  first  faithless  father  did  give. 
'Tis  a  wild  and  wearisome  life  at  the  best  we  own, 

And  a  hope  and  a  fear  of  the  lost  and  dead  ; 
And  a  hatred  keen  of  the  now,  since  saddened  and  lone 

A  look  at  the  must-be  with  trembling  and  dread  ! 

White  winter  awaits  us  to  take  all  the  gold, 

The  bloom  of  the  garden,  the  forest,  and  glen, 
To  robe  us  around  in  her  snow,  to  enfold 

And  darken  the  day  of  her  wide  world  of  men  ; — 
Let  the  madman  exult  and  dream  in  his  death, 

While  he  lies  in  the  circle  of  frost  and  of  blight ; 
Let  him  breathe  of  the  roses  renouncing  his  breath, 

And  grasp  in  the  midnight  the  mantle  of  light ; 

But  delusions  like  these  I  '11  not  take  of  time, 

And  believe  the  youth-hopes  and  yearnings  of  years, 
And  list  to  the  tolling,  and  call  it  a  chime, 

And  hide  'neath  the  sunshine  the  shadow  of  fears  ! 
Nay,  come  in  thy  coldness  so  changing  and  chill, 

The  tide  of  the  turning  the  night  and  the  day, 
At  last  are  our  grievings  in  silence  laid  still ; 

At  last,  like  the  flowers,  do  we  wilt  and  decay  I 


75 


MY   LIFE   AND    I. 


Be  stil!,  sad  heart!  and  cease  repining; 
Behind  the  clouds  is  the  sun  still  shining: 
Thv  fate  is  the  common  fate  of  all, 
Into  each  life  some  rain  must  fall, 
Some  days  must  be  dark  and  dreary. 

H.  I 


T    IFE,  I  find  thee  hard  to  bear, 
J — <     Full  of  rancor,  want,  and  care, 
Evil  deeds  and  empty  prayer, 

Deeply  full  of  sorrow. 
Where  the  joy  of  towering  past  ? 
What  the  hope  of  futures  vast  ? 
When  the  present 's  overcast, 

Shading  all  to-morrow  ! 


Life,  I  wish  to  part  as  friends, 
Leave  thy  wise  or  wicked  ends, 
Leave  —  thou  makest  no  amends 

For  my  depth  of  sorrow. 
Others  come  and  find  thee  kind, 
Pleasing  heart,  and  soul,  and  mind, 
Seldom  cross  and  never  blind  ; 

Xot  for  me  such  morrow ! 

76 


Life,  why  not  be  bright  and  gay, 
Giving  sunshine  day  by  day, 
Till  the  merry  month  of  May 

Shall  thy  brightness  borrow  ? 
Treating  justly  all  my  youth, 
Sending  comfort,  pity,  truth, 
Patience,  richness,  peace,  and  ruth, 

Summer  dreams  to-morrow  ? 

Life,  undo  the  pain  I  feel, 
Take  away,  or  else  reveal 
Why  it  is  that  I  must  kneel, 

Praying  peace  for  sorrow  1 
Is  it  really  best  I  bear 
Loads  like  this  of  woe  and  care  ? 
Best  that  trial  should  not  spare 

Till  some  far-off  morrow  ? 

Life,  I  err  to  scold  thy  part, 
'T  is  but  weakness  thus  to  start 
Sins  on  thee  from  childish  heart, 

Shirking  needful  sorrow ! 
Much  I  err — forgive  my  speech; 
Deeper  yet  and  deeper  teach, 
Till  the  heights  of  love  I  reach 

Glowing  from  to-morrow ! 

Life,  I  thank  for  this  and  this, 
Thank  for  care  as  well  as  kiss  ; 
Thank  for  blight  the  same  as  bliss, 

Healing  darkest  sorrow. 
Thus  as  friends  we  fast  remain  ; 
Life  of  joy  may  lead  to  pain, 
But  golden  gladness  comes  again  — 

Awaking  heavenly  morrow  ! 


77 


THE   SADNESS   OF  LIFE'S   CHANGES. 


MY  heart  is  grieved  to  leave  the  faith  — 
The  faith  and  form  our  fathers  held  ; 
My  spirit  moans  like  some  sad  wraith, 
As  though  from  house  and  home  expelled: 

For  custom  clings  to  all  we  knew, 
To  all  our  earlier  years'  delight ; 

To  all  wherein  our  natures  grew, 
And  fancy  pictured  fair  and  bright. 

We  creatures  are  of  time  and  place, 

Our  wisdom  is  but  for  a  day ; 
With  all  our  grace  we  've  little  grace, 

And  —  grace  or  not — not  long  to  stay. 

I  wage  a  war  with  creeds  I  held, 
Because  of  sight  and  knowledge  clear  ; 

Because  the  fruit  from  rind  is  shelled ; 
Because  the  better  times  are  near. 


78 


I  glory  in  the  truth  I  gain, 

And  knowledge  has  its  lasting  good, 
But  O  the  change  is  full  of  pain, 

And  works  like  poison  in  the  blood. 

I'  cl  almost  take  the  trash  of  time, 
And  have  the  sympathies  of  men, 

Than  all  your  knowledge  so  sublime 
That  puts  mankind  apart  again  ! 

To  climb  some  Alp  with  prospect  fair, 
Appears  a  work  of  great  delight ; 

Yet  he  that  wins  may  well  despair, 
To  see  his  friends  are  lost  to  sight. 

And  so  I  almost  change  my  mind, 
And  cast  aside  the  shells  of  truth, 

That  I  again  may  sweetly  find 
The  fair  affections  of  my  youth. 

We  cannot  always  live  as  boys, 

However  glad  the  days  may  seem, 
And  'mid  the  world's  dull  din  and  noise, 
-    When  men,  we  live  as  in  a  dream. 

No  more  the  man  can  be  the  child, 
No  more  the  sage  the  ignorant  elf, 

Though  each  may  weep  with  sorrow  wild 
To  lose  his  dear,  departed  self. 

And  thus  't  is  vain  to  as.k  a  change, 
And  vow  to  turn  to  earlier  days ; 

From  height  to  height  we  onward  range, 
And  after  sorrow  sing  our  praise  : 

For  God  is  over  all,  we  know, 

And  birth  may  have  its  pangs  and  pain, 
But  Spring  will  follow  winter  snow, 

And  summer  flowers  the  April  rain ! 


79 


MY   BIRTHDAY. 


)*"  I  "IS  thirty  years  ago  to-day, 

J-       Since  first  I  saw  the  golden  light, 

Since  first  I  came  this  earthly  way 
From  out  the  unknown  infinite. 

0  mystery  beyond  my  grasp, 
The  reason  why  I  came  at  all, 

Why  this  frail  flesh  my  soul  should  clasp, 
Why  this  strange  lot  to  me  should  fall. 

1  had  no  choice  in  what  befell, 

The  fates  decreed  my  life's  long  course, 
With  smile  of  heaven  or  frown  of  hell, 
With  weakling  mind  or  soul-like  force. 

It  came  to  me  as  flowers  upspring, 
Or  desert  sands  spread  far  and  wide, 

It  came,  I  weep,  or  laugh,  or  sing, 

Am  smit  with  grief  or  crowned  with  pride. 

O  who  can  trace  this  winding  brook, 
A  nd  tell  me  why  my  life  is  such  ? 

Peer  in  its  depths  with  wisest  look, 
And  yet  its  bed  you  cannot  touch. 

You  see  its  waters  onward  roll, 

You  know  they  came  from  mountains  high, 
But  they  are  past  our  poor  control, 

Allured  by  ocean  and  by  sky. 

O  something  is  we  do  not  know, 
A  power  we  feel  and  half  discern, 

That  bids  the  present  beauty  grow, 
That  bids  the  present  sweetness  learn. 

And  this  Eternal  Something  dear, 
Has  made  the  world  for  noblest  end, 

In  darkness  seeing  noonday  clear, 
In  toil  and  trouble  man's  best  friend  ! 


80 


And  so  I  take  this  life  of  mine, 

With  thousand  thanks  that  it  is  so; 

I  know  't  is  blest  by  love  divine, 
I  know  in  bliss  it  still  must  grow. 

An  endless  future  waits  on  me, 

The  heavens  are  mine  as  well  as  earth, 

The  vast  inheritance  I  see, 

And  bless  the  day  that  gave  me  birth. 

O  blessings  sweet  as  early  light, 
Or  kisses  from  the  soul  we  love, 

And  bright  as  eyes  in  love  are  bright, 
Descend  in  kindness  from  above  ; 

And  may  this  day  a  motto  be 
To  strengthen  faith  and  noble  trust ; 

A  guide,  a  hope,  a  love  to  me, 
To  make  me  pure,  and  wise,  and  just. 

And  may  I  take  my  manhood's  lot, 

And  work  and  wait  in  faith  sublime, 
Thro'  winters  keen  and  summers  hot, 
•   The  grand  result  of  this  my  time. 

All  things  around  shall  bless  my  life, 
And  add  their  store  of  joy  and  mirth, 

The  love  of  friends,  of  mother,  wife, 
And  bless  the  day  that  gave  me  birth. 

There  shall  not  come  a  cloud  of  care, 
To  mar  the  brightness  of  my  sky ; 

My  hope  shall  be  in  all  things  fair, 
My  trust  shall  be  in  God  on  high  ! 

'T  is  thirty  years  ago  to-day, 

Since  first  I  saw  life's  golden  light, 

The  prospect  opens  out  for  aye 
And  says  —  my  years  are  infinite  1 


81 


CHILDLESS. 


NO  babe  have  I  to  love  and  call  mine  own, 
No  babe  to  smile  its  tender  love  to  me ; 

To  cheer  my  heart  with  winsome  ways  and  free : 
Around  my  feet  no  climbing  shoots  have  grown, 
I  live  as  I  must  also  die  —  alone, 

And  lonely  now  for  infant  love  I  be  : 
As  Spring  were  vain  unless  her  flowers  were  shown, 
So  seems  my  life  since  it  no  babe  has  known  ! 
O  parent  hearts  with  many  cares  opprest, 

That  pray  at  times  from  all  your  toils  release,    ' 
No  more  bewail  your  lot,  for  it  is  blest, 

And  ye  thus  tried  have  more  than  I  of  peace. 
For  goodness  gave  the  gifts  that  love  might  grow, 
And  ye  are  rich  as  flowers, — I  cold  as  snow ! 


SOMETHING   TO   LIVE    FOR. 


A  MOTHER  lay  upon  a  bed  of  pain, 
Before  her  first,  her  infant  babe  was  born, 
With  tears  her  eyes  were  rilled,  like  clouds  with  rain. 

And  life  seemed  sad  and  all  the  world  forlorn ; 
She  thought  of  death,  and  it  though  dark  seemed  fair, 

'T  were  fair  to  leave  the  world  and  be  at  rest, 
To  leave  the  heartache,  woe,  and  dull  despair, 

That  fill  at  times  our  poor,  bereaved  breast ! 
But  what  a  change  when  baby  sweet  and  bright 

Is  born  to  her  and  makes  that  piteous  cry, 
The  darkness  turns  at  once  to  morning  light, 

She  prays  that  she  may  live,  she  cannot  die, 
For  there  her  treasure  is,  that  God  did  give 
That  she  might  have  on  earth  a  heaven  to  live  ! 


82 


LITTLE   CHILDREN. 


I    THINK  the  stars  are  fair 
Far  in  the  deep  blue  air  ; 
And  flowers  are  surely  sweet 
That  come  the  Spring  to  greet ; 

And  birds  are  dear,  I  know; 
And  streams  are  clear  that  flow  ; 
And  field  and  forest  bright 
As  Summer  shines  in  light. 

But  O  the  children  fair 
Than  stars  to  me  are  rare ; 
And  sweeter  than  the  flowers 
And  birds  in  summer  bowers  ; 

And  stream,  and  field,  and  wood, 
And  all  in  Nature  good  ; 
They  are  a  type  of  heaven, 
The  sweetest  gift  God-given  ! 


8.3 


A   BLESSING   FOR    BABY. 


A  BLESSING  pure  as  purest  snow, 
That  from  high  heaven  descends  below. 
And  sweet  as  roses  born  in  June, 
And  clear  as  birds  that  sing  in  tune, 
Be  now  on  baby  sweetly  sent, 
And  with  her  being  ever  blent, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie  f 

A  blessing  like  the  summer  air, 
And  like  the  sea  all  calm  and  fair, 
And  like  the  morn  with  beauty  dyed, 
And  like  the  eve  with  love  allied, 
Be  now  for  her  in  golden  store, 
And  gathering  beauty  more  and  more, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie. 

A  blessing  strong  as  mother's  love, 
And  all  that  mother's  heart  would  prove, 
And  dear  as  father's  faithful  mind, 
And  sweet  as  sister's  feeling  kind, 
Be  now  on  her  and  in  her  heart, 
Her  life's  diviner,  dearer  part, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie  ! 


84 


Her  path  we  pray  all  smooth  and  clear, 
Her  life  a  summer  all  the  year, 
Her  friends  all  true,  and  wise,  and  good, 
The  earth  to  her  all  sisterhood, 
And  heaven  the  higher  sphere  of  this, 
Her  life  and  death  all  full  of  bliss, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie  ! 

May  heaven  and  earth  for  her  unite 
In  perfect  peace  and  pure  delight; 
And  every  joy  the  heart  can  feel, 
Itself  to  her  in  truth  reveal ; 
O  blessing,  blessing  on  her  head, 
And  in  her  heart  and  soul  be  shed, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie  ! 

For  all  that's  pure  and  bright  we  ask, 
To  fit  her  well  for  earthly  task; 
For  pleasure  here  and  far  before, 
For  life  and  pleasure  more  and  more.; 
Since  all  our  hearts  aspire  to  bless, 
And  crown  her  life  with  happiness, 
Our  darling  baby  Bessie  ! 

Thus  on  the  morn  that  brought  thee  here, 
We  ask  God's  love  to  bless  thee,  dear. 
As  Spring  comes  round  and  thrills  the  earth, 
Till  flowers  and  sunshine  burst  in  birth, — 
So  this  intense,  well-wishing  love, 
Shall  bring  all  gladness  from  above, — 
On  thee  our  baby  Bessie  ! 


TO   OUR   FIRST-BORN. 


DEAR  child,  we  bid  thee  welcome  here. 
Thrice  welcome  to  this  world  of  ours 
Not  all  the  stars  so  sweet  appear, 

Nor  half  so  rich  the  summer  flowers. 

We  bid  thee  welcome  on  thy  way 
To  tread  the  round  of  this  our  life, 

A  thousand  welcomes  do  we  say, 
With  every  joy  and  blessing  rife. 

The  winter  drear  is  all  about, 

But  what  of  that  to  thee,  our  sweet  ? 

Our  hearts  are  warm  within,  without, 
And  with  warm  love  thy  presence  greet. 

And  all  the  snows  have  changed  to  sun, 
And  wilderness  to  Eden  bright. 

And  heaven  below  is  well  begun, 
With- thee  to  grace  our  happy  sight. 

What  thou  shall  be  we  cannot  know, 
Yet  what  thou  art  we  feel  full  strong, — 

The  sweetest  sweet  that  e'er  did  grow, 
The  fairest  offering  of  song. 

No  sorrow  mother  may  have  felt, 
"  Is  counted  aught  now  thou  art  here  ; 
In  joyous  praise  her  soul  has  knelt, 
To  think  she  has  a  gift  so  dear  ! 


86 


We  talk  of  thee  as  wondrous  fair, 
As  far  beyond  all  thought  of  joy, 

We  scan  thine  eyes  and  stroke  thy  hair, 
Our  first-born,  darling  baby  boy  I 

We  wonder  what  to  name  thee,  love, 
That  men  may  call  thee  day  by  day ; 

No  name  of  rose  or  cooing  dove 
Could  half  thy  gentleness  display. 

We  plan  the  future  far  ahead, 

Wherein  thy  powers  shall  find  employ, 

And  glory  in  the  grace  thou'lt  shed 
On  us  in  age,  our  darling  boy. 

We  see  thee  seated  high  in  State, 
Advancing  still  in  love  and  lore, 

And  pray  for  thee  life's  fairest  fate, 
For  now  and  ever,  evermore  ! 

O  million  blessings  on  thee,  sweet, 
From  earth  below  and  heaven  above  ; 

>Iay  all  pure  things  around  thee  meet, 
All  gladness,  truth,  and  peace,  and  love  ! 

And  as  the  summer  roses  grow, 
And  birds  their  songs  expatiate  free, 

So  may  thy  life  in  beauty  blow, 
And  song  of  songs,  proceed  from  thee. 

May  poet's  mantle  on  thee  rest, 
And  come  to  thee  the  painter's  skill, — 

Be  thou  with  music's  magic  blest, 

And  with  the  soldier's  conquering  will. 

May  all  of  good  that  time  can  give, 
Be  thine  through  time  and  scenes  of  earth, 

To  make  thee  joy  that  thou  dost  live, 
And  consecrate  for  aye  thy  birth ! 


87 


I    KNEW   AN    ANGEL   CHILD. 


I  KNEW  an  angel  child  in  pleasant  years  gone  by, 
Who  lived  beneath  God's  fair  and  sunny  reach  of  sky  ; 
He  loved  the  life  he  led  the  summer  days  so  long, 
And  spent  the  hours  like  birds  in  merriment  and  song. 
The  earth  was  Eden  then  and  sense  of  sin  unknown, 
He  lived  in  God's  good  world  with  gracious  good  o'ergrown 
And  nature  spread  her  flowers  and  taught  her  birds  to  sing, 
To  please  the  darling  child  with  all  the  seasons  bring ; 
But  that  was  years  agone,  in  years  that  swift  went  by, 
Upon  another  earth,  beneath  another  sl$y! 

That  child  had  playmates  dear  and  was  as  glad  as  day, 
The  very  sun  with  him  and  all  the  flowers  would  play, 
And  music  voices  rang. and  made  his  beating  heart, 
Like  happy  hills  and  dales  with  happy  echoes  start. 
Their  joyous  calls  were  like  the  wood-dove's  cry  so  sweet, 
As  star  greets  golden  star  so  would  these  children  greet ; 
Their  round  of  play  and  sweet  companionship  was  wild, 
With  sense  of  highest  heaven  to  that  delighted  child ; 
But  that  was  in  the  past,  in  years  and  years  gone  by, 
Upon  another  earth,  beneath  another  sky  ! 

That  child  I  meet  no  more,  he's  dead  and  lost  to  me, 

And  only  in  the  skies  may  I  his  semblance  see ; 

But  there  I  trust  my  youth  will  greet  my  ravished  sight, 

And  waken  all  the  past  with  all  its  old  delight. 

Oh !  angel  that  I  knew,  pray  rise  and  go  before, 

And  beckon  me  ahead  to  life's  far  reaching  shore, 

And  call  me  to  the  strand  of  purer  peace  and  rest, 

Where  all  our  sorrowing  hearts  with  joy  and  love  are  blest. 

And  we  can  meet  again  the  years  and  years  gone  by, 

Upon  another  earth,  beneath  another  sky  ! 


A    WOMAN'S   WISDOM. 


I  SPOKE  to  her  of  learned  themes, 
Of  Greek  and  Hebrew  I  adore, 
I  wandered  off  in  poesy's  dreams, 

And  all  the  wealth  of  history's  lore ; 
The  babe  was  sweet  that  in  her  arms 

Lay  still  in  smiles  or  coaxed  her  care, 
She  turned  and  hushed  its  fond  alarms, 

And  met  each  wish  abiding  there  ; 
O,  wiser  wisdom,  't  is,  said  I, 
Than  all  the  books'  philosophy ! 

I  sat  and  sang  to  organ  sweet, 

Was  rapt  with  strains  that  seemed  divine, 
She  sat  anear  in  wonder  meet, 

And  joined  at  times  her  voice  with  mine. 
But  baby  cried  and  stretched  his  hands, 

And  all  the  charm  to  her  was  lost, 
To  hush  and  soothe  the  mother  stands, 

And  loud  he  crows  as  high  he  's  tost, — 
And  better  far  to  me  the  sight, 
Than  all  the  Masters  e'er  could  write ! 

'T  is  just  the  mother's  heart  should  be 

The  wisest  gift  that  God  has  given ; 
'T  is  deeper  than  the  deepest  sea, 

And  nearer  than  the  stars  to  heaven : 
'T  is  wondrous  in  its  love  and  lore, 

Surpassing  all  our  schools  can  teach, 
It  borders  love's  eternal  shore, 

And  will  afar  like  oceans  reach  ; 
'T  is  richer  than  the  scholar's  crown, 
The  sage's  lore  and  high  renown  ! 


89 


THE   CANARY'S    ESCAPE. 


OUR  canary,  on  a  day, 
Thought  that  he  would  fly  away, 
Fly  away  in  regions  far, 
Gay  and  golden  like  a  star. 
"  For,"  said  he,  *'  the  other  birds 
Oft  have  spoken  winsome  words, 
Saying,  '  It 's  so  fresh  and  fair, 
Sailing  in  the  summer  air, 
Building  in  the  bowery  trees, 
Breasting  every  balmy  breeze, 
Singing  when  and  where  you  will, 
In  the  fields  and  woods  so  still ! ' 
It  is  true,  and  I  will  go, 
Whether  Willie  wish  or  no ; 
I  shall  start  whene'er  I  can; 
This  is  my  decided  plan  !  " 

90 


So,  when  Willie  came  to  him, 
Carefully  his  cage  to  trim, 
He  began  to  flit  about, 
Half  in  earnest,  half  in  doubt, 
Till  he  saw  the  door  was  wide, 
Made  a  dash,  and  was  outside. 
There  he  flew  on  fence  and  tree, 
Feeling  glad  that  he  was  free  ; 
But  the  puss  went  after  him, 
And  his  head  begun  to  swim  : 
Rover,  too,  did  run  and  bark, 
And  the  day  grew  dim  and  dark. 

Once  again  in  field  he  flew, 
Wet  as  wet  with  morning  dew, 
Tired  out  and  fit  to  die, 
He  no  longer  wished  to  fly, 
But  desired  his  olden  cage, 
Learning  wisdom  like  a  sage, 
When  the  wires  from  Nellie's  hand, 
Came  to  save,  like  fairy  wand  ; 
And  he  felt  right  pleased  again, 
Glad  as  sunshine  after  rain  ; 
In  his  cage  he  sang  his  best, 
Thankful  for  its  peace  and  rest. 

Many  a  boy  has  been  like  this, 
Changing  known  for  fancied  bliss, 
Wished  himself  away  from  home, 
Where,  ungoverned,  he  might  roam 
Thought  that  all  outside  were  blest, 
Like  the  swallows  from  their  nest ; 
Thought  that  he  away  would  run, 
And  rejoice  in  freedom  won. 
But,  like  birdie,  he  will  find, 
All  the  world  is  far  from  kind, 
And  that  home,  though  like  a  cage, 
Still  is  best  till  he's  of  age ; 
And  that,  were  he  wise  in  time, 
Home  is  heaven's  happiest  clime. 
Our  canary,  on  a  day, 
Taught  me  this  in  his  sweet  way. 

91 


FAIRIES. 


IN  olden  days  when  men  were  young, 
The  fairies  filled  our  Eden  earth, 
In  wood  and  glade  like  flowers  they  sprung, 
With  music's  melody  and  mirth. 

They  went  to  homes  all  dark  with  care, 
And  carried  light  and  kind  relief 

They  went  so  beautiful  and  fair, — 
We  grieve  to  lose  this  fond  belief. 

Yet  sad  to  say,  they  are  no  more, — 
They  fade  as  fades  the  morning  moon, 

And  story-books  alone  restore, 

Our  faith  so  sweet  that's  lost  so  soon. 

Yes,  there  they  charm  our  childhood  still, 
With  magic  deeds  of  help  to  truth, 

With  pleasing  kindness  and  good-will, 
They  bless  the  trusting  days  of  youth. 

And  so  they  come  into  our  hearts, 
And  move  like  blessed  angels  there, 

And  oft  their  willingness  upstarts 
To  make  our  actions  likewise  fair. 

These  fairies  live  and  yet  are  dead, 
Are  dead  and  yet  endure  and  live, 

And  round  us  still  their  influence  shed, 
And  peace  and  blessing  largely  give. 

O  blessings  then  on  them  so  kind, 
The  fairy  tribe  of  earth  and  air ; 

In  angel  friends  their  love  we  find, 

Ten  thousand  times  more  full  and  fair. 

And  this  sweet  faith  can  never  die, 
It  holds  in  youth  and  age  as  well ; 

They  wait  for  us  in  yonder  sky, 

And  we  ere  long  with  them  shall  dwell ! 


92 


A    MOTHER'S    PRAYER. 

O  FATHER,  Lord  of  life, 
To  Thee  I  bend  the  knee, 
And  come  with  earnest  prayer, 
That  Thou  wilt  answer  me  : 
Not  for  myself  I  pray, 
Nor  any  added  joy, 
May  all  I  have  still  stay, 
And  chief  of  all,  my  boy ! 

Thou  know'st  a  mother's  heart, 

For  Thou  hast  made  it  so, 
Thou  didst  the  love  impart, 

And  mad'st  it  sweetly  grow. 
My  heart  is  on  my  child, 

My  bliss  without  alloy, 
Keep  him  all  undefiled, 

O  keep  my  darling  boy ! 

Give  him  to  live  on  earth, 

To  cheer  me  through  the  years, 
To  gain  in  might  and  worth, 

And  wipe  away  my  tears. 
He's  more  than  all  beside, 

With  him  no  toils  annoy, 
O  Father,  keep  and  guide, 

And  bless  my  darling  boy  ! 

Bless  him  by  night  and  day, 

Bless  him  or  sick  or  strong, 
Lead  him  the  wiser  way, 

Teach  him  the  love  of  song. 
O  bless  him  Father,  bless, 

Let  naught  my  hope  destroy, 
Let  naught  my  heart  distress, 

O  bless  my  darling  boy  1 

Give  him  to  liv^  for  thee, 

To  do  his  duty  well, 
And  in  thy  presence  be, 

And  with  Thee  faithful  dwell. 
And  in  my  age  at  last, 

I'll  close  my  eyes  with  joy, 
And  my  glad  spirit  cast 

On  Thee  who  kept  my  boy  ! 

93 


A    NOBLE   MAN    CAN   ALWAYS    DIE. 


WE  talk  as  though  we  needs  must  flinch, 
When  trouble  presses  hard  and  sore, 
Give  way  to  wrong,  and  inch  by  inch 

Lose  all,  and  fight  and  strive  no  more : 
I  tell  you  that  'tis  all  untrue, 

A  plain,  unvarnished,  evil  lie, 

For  well  we  know  both  I  and  you, 

A  noble  man  can  always  die ! 

There  is  no  need  to  toy  with  sin, 

To  let  it  come  and  hurl  us  down, 
The  warrior  true  can  always  win, 

Or  die  in  old  and  fair  renown. 
Have  other  thought  and  you  are  lost, 

Your  happy  days  of  hope  gone  by  ; 
So  stand  by  this  when  tempest-tost, 

A  noble  man  can  always  die  ! 

This  is  the  way  the  sages  went, 

And  heroes  high  of   olden  time  ; 
This  is  the  way  their  lives  were  spent, 

In  action  great  and  faith  sublime  ! 
Let  fear  be  lest  we  sell  the  soul, 

And  from  our  post  of  duty  fly; 
Stand  firm,  tho'  thunder  o'er  us  roll ; 

A  noble  man  can  always  die  ! 

Can  die  for  truth  and  die  for  name, 

Can  leave  a  glorious  light  behind ; 
Can  win  the  brave  truthseeker's  fame, 

And  so  enrich  undying  mind. 
And  death  can  give  whate'er  we  lose, 

And  all  our  larger  wants  supply ; 
So  ever  truth  and  virtue  choose ; 

A  noble  man  can  always  die ! 


94 


HELP  THE  MAN  THAT  SEEKS  THE  RIGHT! 


HELP  the  man  that  seeks  the  right, 
Do  your  best  to  keep  him  true, 
Be  to  him  a  guiding  light, 

He  may  be  the  same  to  you. 
Do  not  scan  each  fault  he  bears, 
See  his  virtues  shining  bright, 
See  the  grace  he  graceful  wears, 
Help  the  man  that  seeks  the  right ! 

Help  your  brother  as  he  needs 
In  the  hour  he  strives  and  falls, 

Never  think  of  church  and  creeds, 
And  our  pious  funeral  palls; 

Never  think  of  praise  and  blame, 
But  assist  with  all  your  might, 

Never  think  of  after  fame, 
-     Help  the  man  that  seeks  the  right ! 

'Tis  not  ours  to  judge  each  act 

And  condemn  with  ready  speech, 
Glorying  in  some  fatal  fact 

Where  we  can  his  name  impeach ; 
But  'tis  ours  to  aid  him  on, 

On  to  many  a  cloud-capped  height, 
Ours  to  bid  his  fears  begone  ; 

Help  the  man  that  seeks  the  right ! 

All  and  each  are  one  in  kind, 

Varying  but  in  small  degree  ; 
Each  at  times  is  weak  and  blind ; 

Angels  pity  you  and  me  ; 
So  to  others  lend  a  hand 

In  our  life's  uneven  fight ; 
List  to  this,  God's  great  command, — 

Help  the  man  that  seeks  the  right ! 


95 


PREPARE   ME,    GOD  ! 


Oh,  mould  me  till  to  self  I  die, 
And  live  to  thee  alone  ! 

Frederic  H.   Hedge. 

Lord,  purify 
The  worldly  heart ; 
The  empty,  famished  spirit  fill. 

Frederic  A .    Whitney. 

PREPARE  me,  God!  for  chance  and  change, 
While  life  shall  be  ; 

Give  me  content  through  all  things  strange, 
And  calm  with  thee. 

Disturb  my  mind  from  day  to  day, 

In  stagnant  rest ; 
Let  thorns  at  times  be  in  my  way, 

And  I  unblest. 

O  God  !  prevent  all  idle  trust 

In  things  of  earth, 
Give  me  to  see  they  are  but  dust, 

And  little  worth. 

Uproot  the  selfish  clinging  here, 

By  grief  of  hear  t ; 
Make  hollow  faiths  as  such  appear, 

And  so  depart. 

Give  me  to  live  the  love  of  life 

In  fairest  truth, 
And  have  no  care  for  peace  or  strife, 

But  onward  youth. 

O  God  !  prepare  me  heart  and  mind, 

And  all  my  soul, 
Teach  me  thyself  in  love  to  find, 

While  ages  roll ! 


96 


'TIS    EASY    BLAMING   THOSE  WHO    ERR. 


>r  I  ^  IS  easy  blaming  those  who  err, 

-L       And  calling  names  of  ugly  sound  ; 
Tis  easy  passing  sneer  and  slur, 

To  own  an  owl-like  look  profound  ; 
But  take  another  thought,  my  friend, 

The  wise  and  good  are  slow  to  blame, 
And  always  wish  a  better  end 

Than  darkened  life  and  blackened  name,  ! 

'Tis  easy  thinking  this  a  fault, 

And  that  a  failing,  clear  as  day ; 
'Tis  easy  seeing  neighbors  halt, 

And  smiling  as  they  leave  the  way; 
But  take  another  thought  of  good, 

And  ask,  have  you  e'er  done  the  same  ? 
Have  you  been  all  that  honor  should  ? 

Have  you  a  spotless  life  and  name  ? 

'Tis  easy  judging  other  souls, 

Condemning  all  to  death  and  doom ; 
'Tis  easy  taking  their  control-, 

To  make  for  them  the  desert  bloom ; 
But  take  the  practice  home,  and  then 

Forbear  to  judge  with  loud  defame  ; 
Go  learn  to  help  your  fellowmen 

To  higher  life  and  holier  name! 

'Tis  easy,  all  this  foolish  noise, 

But  sense  of  duty  scorns  the  ease, 
And  comes  to  tell  of  purer  joys, 

With  dawn  that  cures  this  dark  disease. 
'Tis  light,  and  love,  and  better  laws, 

We  need  o'er  all  the  world  to  flame, 
To  bring  the  fall  of  flagrant  flaws, 

And  perfect  life  and  spotless  name ! 


97 


THE   WORLD'S    CHARITY. 

THEY  tell  me  I  must  turn  aside, 
And  cease  to  speak  to  you ; 
Your  robes,  they  say,  are  crimson  dyed, 

And  mine  are  washed  in  dew ! 
Your  life  grates  ill  on  their  fine  ears, 

But  mine  is  like  sweet  song ; 
Your  days  should  yield  but  grief  and  tears, 

While  joys  my  being  throng  ! — 
And  so  they  bid  me  turn  aside, 
And  keep  the  law  of  carping  pride  1 

Tis  ill  to  tell  them  love  regards 

Attractions  they  ne'er  see ; 
'Tis  ill  to  to  say  that  love  rewards  . 

With  God's  most  gracious  fee  ; 
'Tis  ill  to  say  the  years  give  scorn 

To  him  and  her  who  fail  — 
Who  fail  in  faith  to  those  forlorn, 

And  send  nor  help  nor  hail ; 
They  cannot  know,  they  turn  aside, 
And  bid  me  ape  their  empty  pride  ! 

And  may  I  tell  them  of  the  Christ, 

And  what  the  lawyer  learnt  — 
How  his  kind  heart  was  never  iced 

To  those  who  cursings  earnt  ? 
Are  all  the  laws  of  love  in  vain, 

The  ages  preach  so  well  ? 
Or  must  we  learn  first  truths  again, 

And  simplest  duties  tell  ? 
Oh,  shame  to  those  who  say  in  pride, 
From  want  and  woe  we  turn  aside  !          . 

Yes,  cruel  are  the  ways  of  men, 

And  low  the  seeming  high, 
When  they  refuse  pure  love  again. 

And  pass  the  erring  by  ! 
So  prisons  rise,  so  crimes  abound, 

So  false  religions  shine  ; 
But  heaven  in  sympathy  is  found, 

And  love  abides  divine  ; 
And  I  will  walk  where  I  can  be 
A  help  to  those  in  need  of  me  ! 
98 


A   WORD    OF   CHEER. 

I  FAIN    would  sing  a  word  of  cheer  to  all  whose  lives  are  crost, 
To  all  who  struggle  sore  with  sin,  and  count  their  labor  lost. 
I  look  and  see  'tis  sadly  true  that  men  despise  your  aim, 
And  load  you  down  with  scorn  and  sneer,  while  seeking  purer 

name. 

Perhaps  you  deem  the  poet  blest,  and  free  from  such  dark  care, 
The  world  a  scene  of  hateful  strife,  he  king-like  cannot  share ! — 
But,  brothers,  he  must  fight  the  field,  and  bear  its  weight  of   dole, 
Be  hard  oppressed  in  heart  and  mind,  and  sick  to  death  in  soul, 
lie  knows  the  pain  of  keenest  wrong,  the  scorching  blast  of  scorn, 
The  crime  and  lies  of  false  report  by  which  our  hearts  are  torn; 
Through  these  afflictions  courage  came,  and  made  him  brave  and 

strong, 

The  friend  of  all  who  need  his  word  to  stem  the  tide  of  wrong ; 
And  now  he  sings  to  you  the  lay  that  set  his  nature  free  ; — 
Dare,  child  of  God  as  well  as  man,  dare  God-like  man  to  be  ; 
Arise  from  dwarfing  fretfulness,  from  retribution's  smart, 
Arise  with  saving  cheerfulness,  and  boldly  do  thy  part, 
Downcast,  downtrod,  arise,  and  grace  and  worth  shall  crown  thy 

heart ! 


Right  well  we  know  you  fought  not  here,  as  soldiers  might  have 

done, 

That  there  you  lost  the  battle-field,  where  better  men  have  won  : 
We  know  your  passions  ruled  and  in  your  weakness  bore  the  crown, 
But  now  the  way  of  right  is  clear  for  honor  and  renown. 
We  know  you  cannot  feel  content  with  loathsome  sin  and  shame* 
And  therefore,  man  besmeared  with  dirt,  come  claim  thy  manly 

name ; 

Let  deep  the  lesson  ever  be  thy  sorrow  wrote  in  fire, 
And  learn  henceforth  to  curb  thy  will,  and  waywardness  desire  : 
Remember  angels  love  thee  still,  and  pause  in  thy  descent, 
Ascend  the  glorious  height  of  good,  where  thy  forefathers  went. 
Here's  work  for  thee  of  royal  sort,  and  peace  with  precious  store  ,' 
Here's  life  of  freedom,  wealth,  and  worth ;  and  joy  forevermore. 
Throw  craven  fear  into  the  sea ;  cast  meanness  all  aside  ; 
Let  justice,  right,  and  love  abound,  instead  of  sin  and  pride ; 
Arise  from  shades  of   saddest  gloom  to  where  the  day-beams  dart, 
Arise  to  life  of  manliness,  and  boldly  do  thy  part, 
Downcast,  downtrod,  arise,  and  grace  and  good  shall  fill  thy  heart ! 

99 


O,    LET  US    SMILE    OUR   TEARS    AWAY!, 

Help  us  to  be  grateful,  we  who  live 

Such  sordid,  fretful  lives  of  discontent, 
Nor  see  the  sunshine,  nor  the  flower,  nor  strive 

To  find  the  love  thy  bitter  chastening  meant. 

Celia  Thaxtcr. 

O  heart  of  man !  canst  thou  not  be 
Blithe  as  the  air  is,  and  as  free ! 

H.  IV.  Longfellow. 

OLET  us  smile  our  tears  away 
And  take  the  world  with  joyous  cheer. 
We  must  have  night  as  well  as  day, 

And  now  and  then  must  shed  the  tear ; 
But  tears  depart  with  cheer  of  heart, 
,  And  under  reason's  rightful  sway; 
So  rise  to  this  high  state  of  bliss 
And  smile  your  tears  of  grief  away  ! 

The  ill  we  weep,  perhaps  is  good, 

The  best  of  good  in  dark  disguise, 
But  we  the  good  by  tears  withstood, 

And  stayed  the  light  from  breaking  skies; 
Then  take  good  cheer  and  cease  to  fear, 

When  evils  seem  with  you  to  stay, 
'And  rise  to  this  high  state  of  bliss, 

And  smile  your  tears  of  grief  away! 

The  sun  may  shine  when  falls  the  rain ; 

The  smile  may  come  e'en  while  we  weep  ; 
The  seeds  of  grief  be  after-gain, 

.That  we  with  blessing  gladly  reap  ; 
So  cease  to  pine  at  day's  decline, 

No  more  lament  the  sunshine  gay, 
And  rise  to  this  high  state  of  bliss, 

And  smile  your  tears  of  grief  away ! 

O,  smile  with  fervent  faith  in  truth  ; 

O,  smile  with  earnest  trust  in  man  ; 
O,  smile  with  joy  of  glowing  youth, 

And  that  true  courage  brave  heart  can  ; 
Smile  morn  and  eve,  and  this  believe, 

These  inward  blessings  ne'er  decay ; 
Then  rise  to  this  pure  state  of  bliss, 

And  smile  your  tears  of  grief  away  ! 


LET    NOT    YOUR    HOPE   BE   DEAD. 


Hope,  like  the  giimm'ring  taper's  light, 

Adorns  and  cheers  the  way : 
And  still  as  darker  grows  the  night, 

Emits  a  brighter  ray. 

Oliver  Goldsmith. 

WHEN  winter  winds  are  sighing, 
And  snow-clouds  cling  to  earth  ; 
When  day  from  life  is  flying; 

And  death  in  life  hath  birth  ; 
When  storms  and  night  will  hover 

Around  the  path  you  tread, 
And  all  looks  blank  and  cheerless, —          . 
Let  not  your  hope  be  dead  ! 

When  life  is  full  of  sorrow, 

Its  highway  rough  and  steep  ; 
\Vhen  darkly  looms  to-morrow, 

Where'er  the  eye  may  sweep  ; 
When  friends  are  few  and  friendless, 

And  foes  thefr  worst  have  said  ; 
When  heaven  and  earth  desert  you, 

Let  not  your  hope  be  dead ! 

The  winter  winds'  sad  sighing 

Will  melt  in  Spring's  refrain  ; 
The  leaves  of  joy  now  dying, 

In  Summer  bloom  again  ; 
The  murky  night  now  brooding 

Shall  soon  have  daylight  shed  ; 
The  change  will  come  with  blessing, 

Let  not  your  hope  be  dead ! 

The  sun  and  moon  may  perish, 

The  stars  and  flowers  may  fade  ; 
The  things  of  time  we  cherish 

Return  to  death's  dark  shade  ; 
But  hope  must  live  to  aid  us, 

Firm  set  in  heart  and  head; — 
The  hope  that  sounds  this  watch-word, 

Let  not  your  hope  be  dead  ! 


101 


THE   DAWNING    DAY- 


We  may  not  live  to  see  the  day, 
But  earth  shall  glisten  in  the  ray 
Of  the  good  time  coming. 

Charles  Mackay. 

For  lo  !  the  days  are  hastening  on, 

By  prophet-bards  foretold, 
When  with  the  ever-circling  years 

Comes  round  the  age  of  gold. 

Edmund  ff.  Sears. 

Oppression  shall  not  always  reign  ; 

There  comes  a  brighter  day, 
When  freedom,  burst  from  ever)'  chain, 

Shall  have  triumphant  way. 

HetHcy  Ware,  Jr. 


THE  sun  of  light  and  love  bedecks  our  morning  prime, 
And  bursts  in  golden  splendor  down  the  hills  of  time, 
And  sheds  o'er  darksome  night  transparent  hues  of  day, 
And  wakes  to  fay-land  life  the  merry-hearted  May ! 
It  robes  the  earth  with  flowers,  bright  stars  of  truthful  love, 
And  thrills  to  praise  and  peace  the  gentle  lark  and  dove  ; 
Enriched  with  saintly  grace  and  blest  with  wisest  lore, 
It  sweeps  from  furthest  East  to  break  upon  our  shore  ; 
But  not  for  white  alone,  or  men  of  high  degree — 
For  all  of  woman  born,  to  bless  and  make  them  free ; 
To  bless  with  hope  and  strength,  make  free  from  care  and  thrall, 
And  be  the  light  and  love,  the  heritage  of  all ! 


102 


We  are  nor  blest  nor  free  while  sin  maintains  his  sway, 
While  want  and  crime  abound  and  brave  the  dawning  day ; 
While  erring  mind  and  soul  are  left  in  deserts  drear, 
With  no  kind  shepherd-heart  to  rescue,  help,  and  cheer  ; 
While  wasteful  war  and  wrong  estrange,  destroy,  and  blight, 
And  foul  ambition  scorns  the  ancient  rule  of  right ! 
We  are  nor  blest  nor  free  till  faith  and  virtue  reign, 
Till  truth  and  justice  meet,  and  life  and  law  ordain  ; 
Till  light  and  love  are  one  in  royal  strength  and  grace, 
The  man's  majestic  form,  the  woman's  angel  face  ! 
That  perfect  time  is  near,  responsive  to  our  call, 
Behold  its  brightening  beams,  the  heritage  of  all ! 

There's  light  for  thee,  dark  soul,  that  totters  to  the  tomb, 
That  fears  its  frowning  porch,  the  home  of  death  and  doom  ; 
There's  light  to  show  the  life  that  sheds  its  fragrance  there, 
Twin  rose  and  lily  flower — all  beautiful  and  fair ! 
And  light  for  thee,  lone  one,  whose  tears  suffuse  thine  eyes, 
The  purest  light  that  paints  with  flame  the  orient  skies  ! 
There's  love  in  yonder  heaven,  ten  thousand  angels  bright, 
The  summer  rays  of  love,  the  tropic  beams  of  light  1 
There's  love  for  desert  hearts,  the  sweetest  fruits  and  flowers, 
There's  love  for  Sharon  souls,  the  bloom  of  Eden  bowers ! 
Away  with  fears  and  doubt,  away  with  death  and  night, 
Let  all  embrace  the  love,  let  all  receive  the  light  ! 

Arise,  ye  young  and  brave,  arise  from  sin  and  shame ! 
Go,  win  the  victor's  wreath  and  high  heroic  name  ! 
Arouse,  ye  dull  and  dead,  be  soldiers  in  the  van, 
And  live  the  blessed  life,  the  spirit-life  of  man  ! 
Let  each  and  all  unite,  regarding  manhood's  trust, 
Till  earth  is  fair  and. free,  with  wisdom  pure  and  just ! 
O  day  of  light  and  love,  ascend  thy  heavenly  way ! 
Our  souls'  expanded  bliss,  for  thee  we  watch  and  pray  ! 
Thy  light  our  ambient  air,  thy  love  our  azure  sky — 
A  paradise  below  shall  lead  to  that  on  high ! 
Sweet  pentecostal  day,  fast  dawning  on  our  sight, 
Arise  o'er  all  *he  world,  supernal  love  and  light ! 


103 


THE  SMILE  OF  HEAVEN  IS  MEANT  FOR  ALL. 


.       .  God 

Saw  and  was  pleased,  perhaps,  one  child  of  his 

Dared  to  be  happy  like  the  little  birds ; 
Dared,  lifting  up  to  him  untroubled  eyes 

In  gratitude  that  worship  is,  and  prayer, 
Sing  and  be  glad  with  ever  new  surprise, 

He  made  his  world  so  fair '. 

Celia  Thaxter. 


YOU  see  the  smile  that  beams  awhile 
Within  the  depths  of  heavenly  day, 
'Tis  Nature's  glow,  her  love  to  show, 

And  drive  our  fears  of  ill  away : 
It  speaks  full  clear  to  every  ear, 

In  cadence  sweet,  to  great  and  small : 
"I  beam  for  you  this  message  true, — 
The  smile  of  heaven  is  meant  for  all !" 

O  could  we  read  this  title  deed 

To  wealth  and  woith  and  peace  secure, 
How  would  the  mind  its  care  unbind, 

How  little  time  its  griefs  endure  ; 
For  as  the  day  sends  forth  its  ray, 

O'er  lowly  plain  and  mountain  tall, 
Its  golden  speech  this  truth  should  teach,- 

The  smile  of  heaven  is  meant  for  all ! 

Now  see,  ye  sad,  this  token  glad, 

And  ope  your  hearts  to  its  appeal ; 
Let  light  divine  within  you  shine, 

And  sweetest  nature  sorrow  heal. 
There  is  not  one  the  sun  beams  on, 

But  can  his  own  this  beauty  call, 
For  high  above  is  writ  this  love, — 

The  smile  of  heaven  is  meant  for  all  ! 


104 


ALL'S   FOR  THE   BEST. 

THERE'S  truth  in  this  that  life  is  best 
As  it  may  fall  to  each  that  lives  ; 
We  have  our  plans  of  wealth  and  rest, 

But  one  above  the  guidance  gives ; 
We  may  complain  in  angry  mood, 

And  rail  at  Providence  supreme, 
And  see  in  life  a  better  good, 

Or  dream  of  that  of  which  we  dream ;  — 
But  God  is  over  all  in  all, 

And  death  the  secret  shows  at  last, 
That  all  is  best  as  it  may  fall ; 

That  all  is  best  when  all  is  past ! 


JOY    COMES    AT   LAST. 

LET  no  weak  spirit  fill  our  breast 
To  break  the  hope  of  happy  rest, 
And  say  that  toil,  and  care,  and  strife, 
Must  e'er  oppress  and  mar  our  life  ; 
Each  day  that  dawns  has  some  relief, 
And  help  and  hope  and  blest  Belief. 
We  climb  the  mount  so  steep  and  high, 
And  soon  the  future  wide  descry. 
We  climb  the  mount,  and  lo  1  before 
We  see  the  landscape's  golden  store  : 
We  gaze  with  rapture  at  the  scene, 
The  glorious  light,  the  living  green ; 
We  cease  to  mourn,  forget  the  way, 
So  satisfied  with  sight  of  day ! 
And  ever  thus  our  lot  is  cast ; 
And  ever  thus  joy  comes  at  last! 


105  M 


THE   UNIVERSAL   CHURCH. 


God  is  no  respecter  of  persons;  but   in  every  nation   he    that 
feareth  him,  and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  with  him. 

Acts  x.— 35. 

The  lofty  portals  of  these  heavens  expand, 

The  everlasting  doors  are  lifted  high ; 
And  troops  of  angels  at  the  gateway  stand, 

To  welcome  in  redeemed  humanity. 

James  freeman  Clarke. 

The  universal  church, 
Lofty  as  is  the  love  of  God, 
Aud  ample  as  the  wants  of  man. 

H.  W.  LongfeUtnu. 

AS  far  as  summer  breezes  blow  and  ocean  waves  rebound, 
And  heaven  from  starry  heights  looks  down  on  all  the  peace 
ful  ground ; 

As  far  as  tossing  barque  may  sail,  and  human  foot  may  tread, — 
So  far  the  love  of  God  is  seen,  like  flowers  and  sunshine  spread  ; 
So  far  we  find  the  pure  in  heart,  the  humble,  wise,  and  just, 
The  brave  and  blest  of  all  the  earth,  that  live  in  truth  and  trust ! 
Right  royal  sons  of  God  are  these,  despite  our  partial  creed, 
Presenting  sweetest  praise  and  prayer  in  holy  word  and  deed  ! 
"The  Father"  owns  no  favored  tribe,  but  loves  them  each  and  all, 
His  Revelation  reaches  them,  with  silver-sounding  call ! 
He  comes  to  them  with  shining  beams  —  the  glorious  sun  of  light 
To  banish  ignorance  and  sin, —  the  drear  and  darkling  night ! — 
He  comes  to  all  the  circling  world,  the  Temple  of  His  grace, 
And  visits  all  the  sons  of  men, —  the  seekers  of  His  face ! 

There  is  but  one  true  lasting  faith,  one  firm  unshaken  creed, — 
Devotion's  pure  and  earnest  thought,  Religion's  Christly  deed, — 
Sincerest  love  for  brother  man,  divinest  love  of  God, 
The  path  to  Heaven's  eternal  light,  by  saints  and  sages  trod  ! 
And  this  is  known  where  man  is  known,  and  saves  their  souls  from 
dearth, 

1 06 


And  fills  their  lives  with  growing  grace,  as  summer  fills  the  earth! 
'Tis  known  by  men  in  rudest  state,  as  some  supreme  desire, 
And  felt  by  all  the  good  and  great,  —  with  whom  our  hearts  aspire  ! 
'Tis  known  and  taught  by  prophet  lips  in  poesy's  golden  speech, 
'Tis  known  and  lived  by  saviors  clear  that  thus  redemption  preach ! 
Wherever  human  hearts  are  found,  they  feel  and  love  the  same, 
And  differ  but  in  time  and  growth,  in  changing  form  and  name  !  — 
For  all  the  circling  world  is  God's, —  the  Temple  of  His  grace, 
And  all  the  sons  of  men  His  sons, —  the  seekers  of  His  face! 

'Tis  not  by  lifeless  books  and  beads,  by  olden  rites  and  creeds, 
Nor  yet  by  monkish  prayers  and  vows,  we  meet  each  others  needs  ; 
'Tis  by  a  vital  faith  in  man,  in  all  his  higher  ends, 
And  by  a  truer  trust  in  God,  in  all  the  light  He  sends; 
Each  passing  age  some  good  presents,  some  bright  heroic  grace, 
Each  varied  tribe  some  truth  retains, —  some  heir-loom  of  the  race. 
They  work  and  wait  for  yon  sweet  day, —  the  central  sun  of  time, 
When  men  shall  love  the   Perfect  God  with  all  their  powers  sub 
lime  ! 

They  work  and  wait  the  golden  hour,  when  reason's  sun  shall  rise, 
And  earth  shall  bloom  in  summer  sweets,  and  blush  with  purple 

skies ; 

They  live  to  see  the  rolling  years  increase  their  manhood's  will, 
And  truth  and  love  to  prosper  so  they  shall  the  wide  world  fill ! 
For  all  the  circling  world  is  God's, —  the  Temple  of  His  grace, 
And  all  the  sons  of  men  His  sons, — the  seekers  of  His  face  ! 

Thro'  all  the  far  ancestral  past,  thro'  time's  retreating  breath, 
Supreme  Perfection  lives  and  works,  redeeming  men  from  death ; 
Compassion  sweet  with  mother  love,  reforms  our  weakling  ways, 
Alluring   us   from    strength  to'  strength,  from  glowing  praise  to 

praise  ! 

Rejoicing  still  the  shepherd  leads  o'er  desert  stone  and  steep, 
To  His  embracing  fold  of  bliss, —  the  wayward  wandering  sheep  ! 
Desiring  peace  the  lost  return  to  sin  and  err  no  more, 
And  earth  becomes  the  Home  of  God,  from  rounding  shore  to 

shore ; 

Then  sing,  ye  isles,  your  joyous  strains,  your  rapturous  delight ! 
Resound,  ye  seas,  the  swelling  song  of  Love's  immortal  might ! 
Repeat,  ye  years,  with  trumpet  voice,  this  heraldry  of  peace, 
Prepare,  ye  hearts,  to  hail  the  day  when  sin  and  death  shall  cease  1 
For  all  the  circling  world  is  God's, —  the  Temple  of  His  grace, 
And  all  the  sons  of  men  His  sons, —  the  finders  of  his  face  I 


107 


ONE   FAITH   THROUGH    MANY   FORMS. 


Gcd  sends  his  teachers  unto  every  age, 
To  every  clime,  and  every  race  of  men, 
With  revelations  fitted  to  their  growth 
And  shape  of  mind. 

fames  Russell  Lowell. 

Pagoda,  mosque,  and  Christan  dome, 

I  see  them  all ;  in  all  the  flame 

Of  worship  burns  :  God  sees  the  same  : 
God  has  in  each  and  all  his  home. 

Richard  Henry  Stoddard. 


I  OFT  have  thought  how  sad  the  sight, 
Of  forms  of  faith  o'er  which  we  fight 
How  much  of  strength  and  life  we  lose, 
Because  of  diverse  forms  we  choose  ; 
And  how  the  world  would  grow  in  light, 
If  each  could  see  the  other  right ! 

For  each  and  all  one  faith  believe, 
Howe'er  their  forms  our  eyes  deceive  : 
The  light  we  use  in  various  ways, 
With  moon  and  stars  is  but  the  day's ; 
And  if  we  could  this  picture  see, 
It  would  destroy  our  bigotry. 

1 08 


As  musing  thus  I  sat  one  night, 

There  ciime  before  me  this  sweet  sight, — 

The  s;>;is  of  men  in  spirit  clear 

To  mv  mind's  eve  did  sweet  appear  ; 

F  saw  them  shine  with  equal  grace, 

And  seek  in  love  the  Father's  face! 

I  saw  the  Hindoo  at  his  shrine 
Bow  down  with  fervency. divine; 
And  the  Celestial  seek  the  true, 
And  serve  the  best  his  fathers  knew ; 
I  saw  the  Parsee  worship  fire, 
And  burn  and  glow  with  fond  desire  ! 

I  saw  the  Arab  Mahomet  serve, 
Nor  dare  from  his  Koran  to  swerve  ; 
I  saw  the  Jew  at  Moses'  feet 
Peruse  the  Law  with  reverence  meet ; 
I  saw  the  Greek  his  Church  revere, 
And  find  the  bliss  of  heaven  was  near  ! 

I  saw  the  Catholic  fondly  tread 

Where  priest  and  old  tradition  led  ; 

I  saw  the  later  churches  seek 

Their  strength  to  serve  them  week  by  week ; 

And  other  men  I  love  I  saw  — 

With  many  forms — one  faith  their  law. 

Throughout  the  whole  one  spirit  went, 
One  soul  on  good  through  all  was  bent ; 
One  heart  inclined  to  know  the  best, 
And  find  in  Him  eternal  rest; 
This  faith  thro'  all  their  forms  was  seen, 
And  gave  them  beauty  fair  and  green  ! 

All  hearts  are  one  in  earth  and  time, 
Whate'er  their  names,  where'er  their  clime  ; 
All  souls  arc  one  in  1  leaven  and  God, 
Their  end  the  same  from  every  sod  ; 
Their  forms  may  fade  —  the  faith  is  sure, 
And  shall  for  all  its  bliss  secure  ! 


109 


BY   THE    FAITH    I    LIVE   I'LL  DIE. 


THE  fear  of  death  has  passed  away, 
I  own  no  more  the  sense  of  ill, 
With  death  as  life  I  wish  to  stray, 

And  death  as  life  its  place  to  fill ; 
'T  were  surely  good,  or  it  were  not, 

Then  how  can  I  against  it  cry? 
Nay,  I  am  calm,  nor  care  a  jot, 
And  by  the  faith  I  live,  I  '11  die ! 

Some  say  —  "  'T  is  well  in  health  to  boast 

Of  strength  and  consolation  strong, 
But  when  we  strike  death's  dreary  coast, 

We  own  our  confidence  was  wrong." 
'T  is  false  such  foolish  speech  to  tell, 

And  doth  plain  history  defy ; 
In  life  I  trust  that  all  is  well, 

And  by  that  faith  I'll  gladly  die  ! 

'T  were  simple  shame  to  dare  to  live, 

And  quake  with  dread  when  death  draws  near : 
My  conscience  firm  support  will  give, 

And  conquer  every  coward  fear. 
In  nature's  love  I  put  my  trust, 

In  this  green  earth,  in  yon  blue  sky ; 
My  soul  cries  out  —  "I  am  not  dust !  " 

And  by  that  faith  I  '11  live  and  die  ! 

Yes,  I  will  die  as  manhood  should, 

With  sweet  assurance  all  is  right, 
With  knowledge  clear  that  all  is  good, 

And  darkness  leads  to  morning  light ; 
In  other  scenes  I  yet  shall  be, 

As  out  from  death  to  life  I  fly, 
And  now,  as  then,  my  end  I  see, 

And  by  this  faith  I  '11  peaceful  die  ! 


no 


REFORMERS. 


/~*HRISTLY  hearts  are  born  to-day, 
V —     Feeling  wants  that  move  the  world, 
Daring  not  to  answer  nay, 

Tho'  earth's  thunderbolts  be  hurled, 
And  the  war-flags  rise  unfurled ; 
Daring  only  noblest  deeds, 
Meeting  thus  our  highest  needs. 

Heads  Socratic  now  are  known, 
Thinking  thoughts  of  bravest  skill, 

Turning  men  to  see  their  own, 
Leading  forth  their  royal  will. 
Shaming  blatant  folly  still, 

Breaking  empty  idol  forms, 

Bearing  grievous  malice  storms. 

These  are  they  the  world  must  scorn, 

Crucify  and  poison  yet ; 
Must — till  error  lies  forlorn, 

All  its  high-flown  glory  set ; 

Must  —  till  fashion  we  forget, 
Reading  clearly  wrong  from  right, 
Love  of  truth  our  guiding  light ! 

We  that  prize  the  past  as  fair, 
Must  not  dream  on  what  has  been, 

But  like  these  with  courage  dare, 
Dare  to  grapple  wrong  and  sin; 
Fight  the  fight  and  die  or  win, 

Striking  falsehood  from  its  strand1, 

So  that  truth  possess  the  land  I 


III 


ALL   THINGS    ARE   OURS. 


HT*HE  native  gifts  of  earth  we  boldly  claim  as  ours, 

-L      As  sent  to  all  the  race  whom  Nature  thus  endowers, 
For  all  the  sun  awakes  the  vitalizing  day, 
And  stars  adorn  the  night  with  pearly-jetted  ray. 
For  all  the  Spring  renews  the  year  with  life  and  bloom, 
And  Summer's  smiling  form  disperses  death  and  gloom  ; 
For  all  the  Autumn's  feast  of  golden  fruit  and  grain  ; 
And  Winter's  rich  bequest  of  frost,  and  snow,  and  rain  : 
Unknown  the  joy  or  peace,  the  round  and  pure  delight 
That  visits  not  the  race,  a  full  and  free  born  right; 
Unknown  the  gift  divine  that  shines  not  here  and  there, 
A  sun  to  all  the  world,  supremely  bright  and  fair. 

The  wealth  and  worth  of  mind  belong  to  us  and  ours  — 
Belong  to  all  the  race,  like  summer  fruits  and  flowers ; 
For  all  the  prophets'  words  and  angel  visits  here, 
And  heroes  true  and  brave  and  sages  wise  and  dear : 
For  all  the  martyrs'  faith  and  holy  saints'  repose, 
And  sweetest  life  and  love  Messiah  hearts  disclose ; 
For  all  old  Egypt's  lore  and  Athens'  royal  state, 
And  Rome's  imperial  fame,  and  nations  good  and  great ; 
Each  ancient  skill  and  art,  each  power  and  faith  sublime, 
Regains  its  youth  with  man,  and  casts  its  seed  in  time, 
To  bloom  in  fragrance  here,  to  burst  in  glory  there, 
A  universal  joy  that  men  with  men  must  share. 

The  hopes  and  faiths  of  all  we  fondly  prize  as  ours, 
Pure  dawnings  of  the  day,  sweet  signs  of  coming  powers  ; 
For  all  the  poet's  wish  and  longing  for  the  free, 
And  preacher's  earnest  prayer  for  what  mankind  must  be  ; 
For  all  the  child's  sweet  dream,  and  manhood's  fair  desire, 
/The  mother's  pious  trust,  the  strivings  of  the  sire  ; 
Each  pure  and  holy  loye,  each  soul-embracing  truth, 
Shall  build  a  home  below  in  Time's  advancing  youth — 
Shall  purify  and  cheer  the  realms  of  life  and  light, 
And  fill  the  world  with  peace,  with  righteousness  and  right  ; 
And  want  and  sin  shall  fail  before  the  sun  of  love, 
And  earth  and  men  be  blest  like  heaven  and  saints  above  ! 


112 


THE   TRIUMPH    OF   TRUTH. 


MINE  eyes  have  seen  the  vision  clear,  as  clear  as  dawning  day, 
Of  truth  triumphant  in  the  earth,  with  her  majestic  sway. 
I  saw  her  in  my  golden  sleep,  when  all  was  calm  and  still, 
I  saw  her  rise  and  all  my  fair  and  fondest  hopes  fulfil ; 
She  was  adored  by  all  the  earth  — by  men  afar  and  near, 
And  with  them  dwelt  the  wide  world  round,  like  seasons  of  the 

year. 

She  came  not,  as  dread  Error  came,  to  rule  with  wrong  the  race, 
She  came  not  forcing  faith  by  fear,  but  won  it  by  her  grace ; 
She  rose  as  doth  the  dawn,  and  spread  and  filled  the  land  with 

light, 
I  saw  it  in  my  golden  dream,  and  blessed  the  happy  sight ! 

I  woke,  and  went  my  way  to  work,  and  with  the  vision  read 

In  all  my  daily  duties  this —  that  Truth  the  nations  led; 

I  saw  it  in  the  conquests  fair  we  make  in  skill  and  trade ; 

I  saw  it  clear  as  noon-day  sky  in  all  that  man  has  made ; 

His  ships  that  sail  the  ocean  wide,  his  engines  on  the  land, 

All  bear  their  testimony  strong  —  that  Truth  is  great  and  grand. 

The  sight  of  falling  crowns  and  thrones,  the  priests  that  fail  in 

pride, 

The  parliaments  that  work  for  good,  and  take  the  people's  side  — 
All  these  to  me  are  telling  true  the  vision  that  I  saw, 
That  Truth  is  triumphing  abroad,  by  .her  majestic  law ! 

I  read  it  in  the  history  past  of  every  land  I  know  — 

That  Truth  is  like  the  forests  fair,  and  Error  like  the  snow ; 

The  forests  grow,  and  spread  and  live  — the  snow  must  melt  away; 

And  Truth  has  grown  and  spread,  and  gathered  power  from  day 

to  day ! 

I  read  it  in  the  present  time,  with  all  its  tribute  fair 
To  what  mankind  may  do  for  man,  if  man  will  only  dare ! 
And  in  the  future  far  and  free  I  read  the  page  complete, 
That  there  the  Truth  her  triumph  sure  will  in  perfection  meet ! 
O  gather  round  her  strong,  ye  brave  !    she  rules  with  bliss,  not 

blight ! 
Rejoice,  O  man,  in  her  fair  beams,  her  day  of  love  and  light ! 


THOU   GOOD    AND  GENTLE   JESUS. 

Jesus,  there  is  uo  name  so  dear  as  thine, 

Which  Time  has  blazoned  on  his  ample  scroll, 
No  wreaths  nor  garlands  ever  did  entwine 

So  fair  a  temple  of  so  vast  a  soul ; 
Once  on  the  earth  wert  thou  —  a  living  shrine, 
Wherein  conjoining  dwelt  —  the  Good,  the  Lovely,  the  Divine. 

Theodore  Parker. 

THOU  good  and  gentle  Jesus,  beloved  of  men, 
Our  first  fair  flower,  the  richest  of  our  race, 
I  turn  through  the  years  to  walk  with  thee  again, 

I  turn  to  adore  the  grandeur  of  thy  grace. 
My  heart  in  the  past  revealed  her  sorrow  sad 

To  see  the  shipwreck  of  the  old,  and  the  wrong 
Thy  church  has  condoned  in  her  heresy  mad, 
To  stay  the  chorus  of  the  sweet  angel-song. 

But  what  of  the  sun,  though  the  shadows  be  near, 

And  mist  and  the  darkness  still  hover  about  ? 
The  radiant  day  to  the  heart  shall  be  dear, 

And  men  at  the  noon  its  gay  glories  may  shout. 
And  thou  through  the  ages  art  perfect  and  pure, 

Thy  word  and  thy  life  are  our  gospel  divine  ; 
My  mind  and  my  heart  on  thy  heart  are  secure, 

And  drink  of  thy  blood  with  the  rapture  of  wine. 

O  Beautiful  One!  the  love-gift  of  all  time; 

0  life  like  the  day  in  its  strength  evermore ; 

0  death  of  all  deaths  !  O  soul-martyr  sublime  ! 
How  can  I  but  love  thee,  but  love  and  adore  ? 

Forgive  me,  my  Lord,  my  bewildering  dark  past, 
Forgive  me  my  doubt,  my  weak,  wayward  sin ; 

1  love  thee  once*  more,  and  my  love  shall  cling  fast, 
And  list  to  thy  voice  o'er  the  multitudes'  din. 

I  touch  but  the  fold  of  thy  garments  of  gold, 

1  catch  but  a  gleam  of  the  light  in  the  sky, 
Yet  stand  in  a  dream  at  the  glory  untold, 

And  wonder  to  gaze  on  the  good  passing  by. 
Oh,  bend  thy  fond  face  from  the  heavens  above, 

And  lift  me  from  earth  by  the  vision  I  see ; 
Oh,  multiply  love,  the  essence  of  love, 

And  keep  me,  O  Savior,  all  faithful  to  thee ! 
114 


STAR   OF    BETHLEHEM. 

STAR  of  Bethlehem,  through  the  ages, 
Beam  upon  us  from  afar, 
Tempting  sin  our  soul  engages, 
Beam  upon  us,  glorious  star  ! 
Beam  upon  us  in  our  noon-night, 
Lead  us  safe  from  ways  of  sin; 
Beam  upon  us  more  than  moon-light, 
Till  the  Father's  home  we  win ! 

Thou  hast  led  the  Magi  olden 

To  thy  dawning  long  ago, 
Shine  on  us  thy  presence  golden, 

Draw  our  hearts  to  serve  thee  so ! 
Shine  on  us  with  richest  beauty, 

Till  our  souls  are  drawn  to  thine ; 
Till  we  know  the  smile  of  duty, 

Is  the  smile  of  love  divine! 

Star  of  love  that  beams  from  Heaven 

Telling  us  the  night  so  drear, 
Has  its  watch  and  guardian  given ; 

Helpful  watch  and  guardian  near  ! 
O  we  love  thee  o'er  all  others 

Bright  and  gorgeous  though  they  be, 
All  the  stars  that  are  thy  brothers 

In  the  great  infinity ! 

We  love  thee,  star,  for  all  thy  beaming 

In  the  darkness  past  and  gone, 
For  thy  rich  and  helpful  gleaming, 

As  we  love  no  other  one  : 
Since  thy  light  to  us  is  dearest, 

Brightest,  sweetest,  holiest,  best ; 
Ever  warm  and  ever  nearest, 

Ever  bringing  peace  and  rest ! 

Star  of  Bethlehem,  through  the  ages, 

Beam  upon  us  from  afar, 
Golden  goodness  and  her  wages, 

Pictured  are  in  thee,  O  star  1 
Beam  upon  us  in  our  sadness, 

In  the  shade  of  death  and  gloom, 
Show  us  life  and  love  and  gladness, 

Endless  life  beyond  the  tomb  I 

"5 


LETS  DECK  OUR  HEROES'  GRAVES! 


Freedom !  thy  dead  can  never  die, 
Because  they  died  for  thee. 

John  A .  Dorgan. 

Bud,  blossom,  and  flower 
All  blended  in  shower, 

In  the  grandest  and  gentlest  of  rains  shall  be  shed 
On  the  acres  of  God 
With  their  billows  of  sod 

Breaking  breathless  and  beautiful  over  the  dead  ? 
•  Benj.  F.  Taylor. 

LET'S  deck  our  heroes'  graves  to-day 
With  flowers  superbly  bright, 
And  come  in  groups  and  fine  array, 

To  bless  their  deaths  with  light. 
We  called  them  forth  from  rest  and  life, 

To  battle  with  the  wrong  ; 
WTe  called  them  forth  to  war  and  strife, 

And  thus  they  suffered  long  : 
Then  deck  our  heroes'  graves  to-day 
With  all  the  flowers  and  wreaths  of  May  ! 

We  cannot  let  their  bravery  die, 

The  memory  of  their  worth  ; 
For  ages  shall  their  souls  supply 

Our  souls  with  nobler  birth ; 
And  inspiration  warm  shall  glow, 

As  we  review  their  deeds, 
And  seeds  of  beauty  shall  they  sow 

To  meet  the  future's  needs  : 
Then  deck  our  heroes'  graves  to-day 
With  all  the  flowers  and*  wreaths  of  May  1 

The  flowers  are  meet  for  such  as  these, 

From  whom  fair  flowers  spring, 
And  fill  the  land  as  waves  the  seas ; 

Then  here  your  tributes  bring  ! 
Oh !  peace  to  them  in  God's  great  sky, 

And  peace  for  them  below, 
They  live  with  us,  they  live  on  high, 

All  free  from  care  and  woe ! — 
Then  deck  our  heroes'  graves  to-day 
With  all  the  flowers  and  wreaths  of  May  \ 
116 


THOSE   WE    HONOR. 


A  wreath,  twine  a  wreath  for  the  loyal  and  true, 
Who,  for  sake  of  the  many,  dared  stand  with  the  few. 

?.  R.  Lowell. 

HERE'S  for  those  who  love  the  cause, 
Giving  service  without  fear, 
Asking  not  for  vain  applause, 
Dreading  not  the  dark  and  drear, 
Flinching  not  from  year  to  year ; 
Here's  to  them  with  right  good-will, 
All  the  world  shall  bless  them  still  I 

Here's  for  those  who  seek  the  true, 

Careless  whether  men  shall  blame, 
Careless  though  they  call  it  "new, " 

Branding  love  with  foul  defame, 

Scorning  such  as  bear  her  name  ; 
Here's  to  them  with  right  good-will, 
Men  admire  and  aid  them  still ! 

Mere's  for  those  who  work  their  mind, 

Giving  manhood  lawful  sway, 
Leaving  each  old  past  behind, 

With  the  new-born,  living  day, 

Growing  with  its  richer  ray  ; 
Here's  to  them  with  right  good-will, 
Earth  demands  and  loves  them  still ! 

Here's  for  royal  souls  and  bold, 

God  has  blest  with  gifts  of  grace, 
Those  who  will  the  world  enfold  — 

Live  and  die  to  help  the  race  ; 

How  with  joy  their  course  we  trace  ! 
Here's  for  them  with  right  good-will, 
Heaven  assists  her  heroes  still ! 

Here's  for  those  who  serve  the  Cause, 

Broader,  wiser,  braver  yet, 
Brushing  off  the  cob-web  flaws, 

Owing  nature  little  debt, 

Smiling  tho'  it  shine  or  wet ; 
Here's  to  them  with  right  good-will, 
Men  and  angels  crown  them  still  ! 
117 


SAM    SOMEBODY    TO   JOHN    ANYONE. 

Enjoy  the  good,  nor  seek  too  much  to  criticise, 
Within  the  slag  of  vice  the  gold  of  virtue  lies. 
Vice  is  not  wholly  vice,  but  virtue  in  the  growth. 

William  W.  Story. 

What  we  choose  may  not  be  good ; 
But,  that  we  choose  it  proves  it,  good  for  us 
Potentially,  fantastically,  now 
Or  last  year,  rather  than  a  thing  we  saw, 
And  saw  no  need  for  choosing.     Moths  will  burn 
Their  wings, —  which  proves  that  light  is  good  for  moths, 
Or  else  they  had  flown  not  where  they  agonize. 

Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning. 

So  fret  not,  like  an  idle  girl, 

That  life  is  dashed  with  flecks  of  sin, 

Abide  :  thy  wealth  is  gathered  in, 
When  Time  hath  sunder' d  shell  from  pearl. 

Alfred  Tennyson. 

And  who  knows  how  a  life  at  the  last  may  show  ? 

Why,  look  at  the  moon  from  where  we  stand ! 
Opaque,  uneven,  you  say,  yet  it  shines, 

A  luminous  sphere,  complete  and  grand  ! 

Pheebe  Gary. 

HOW  do  you,  John  ?  you  know  my  name  ;  'tis  Sam,  yes,  Sam. 
your  friend ; 

It  does  not  signify  what  name  you  put  to  make  the  end. 
'Tis  somebody  of  course  you  like,  or  ought  to,  anyway ! 
And  you  are  John  — John  Anyone,  as  we  in  general  say! 
I  've  got  a  notion  in  my  head,  and  I  'm  agoing  to  talk  — 
To  stand  beside  your  black-board  brain,  and  write  on  it  with  chalk. 
I've  lived  among  such  folks  and  things,  just  where  I've  been  of 

late, 

That  'pon  my  word,  I  curse  my  days  and  this  my  checkered  fate ! 
They  seem  so  queer  and  act  so  mad,  so  small  and  awful  mean, 
That,  hang  my  buttons  !  John,  my  friend,  I  feel  as  green  as  green  I 
I  can't  make  out  their  purposes,  or  what  they  aim  to  do; 
They  seem  to  stick  just  where  they  fall,  and  harden  off  like  glue  ; 
They  stick  to  you  as  feathers  stick,  and  spoil  themselves  in  tar, 
And  light  the  stuff  they  tumble  in,  for  fireflies  sure  they  are. 
Their  families  are  split  in  two,  their  friendships  break  and  part, 
And  sickness  comes  and  fills  the  air,  benumbing  head  and  heart. 
As  sure  as  eggs  are  eggs,  my  boy,  I  cannot  tell,  for  one, 
What  such  a  world  is  living  for  !     Can  you  explain  it,  John  ? 
118 


And  what  beats  me  the  worst  of  all,  is  how  the  churches  act; 
They  hid  good-by  to  charity,  and  leave  it,  that's  a  fact; 
They  talk  of  pence,  and  all  in  pieces  plain  enough  they  are; 
Their  heads  are  all  at  loggerheads  and  irreligious  war. 
It  seems  as  though  the  world  and  them  were  pretty  much  alike, 
And  both  were  gone  from  work  awhile  — a  sort  of  Gospel  strike  ; 
The  plain  and  simple  truths  of  life  they  twist  and  turn  about, 
Till  they  themselves  don  't  know  themselves,  as  rabble-like  they 

shout ; 

And  party  aims  and  empty  forms  possess  their  mind  and  breath, 
And  goodness  stands  beside  them  sick  and  dies  a  natural  death. 
They  seem  to  think  that_  virtue  means  a  hide-and-seek  at  sin, 
And  those,  the  people  never  spy  are  those  jf  course  that  win. 
And  when  the  poor  man  falls  or  trips  they  say,  "For  shame  ydu 

wretch  !  " 
When  they  might  come  with  oil  and  wine  and  sweet  forgiveness 

fetch. 

I  'in  sick  as  Job  at  all  his  friends,  to  see  this  rule  of  three  : 
Am  put  in  vulgar  fractions,  friend,  and  mad  as  mad  can  be  ! 
For,  sure  as  day  and  night  exist,  their  senses  must  be  gone ! 
Then  what  do  they  keep  living  for  ?     Can  you  explain  it,  John  ? 

They  '11  straighten  out    in   time,  perhaps,  for  folks  are   mending 

some  ; 

Let  worst  be  worst  and  sinners  sin  and  buzz  about  and  hum. 
We  learn,  I  guess,  by  lessons  hard  that  give  us  teaching  sound, 
And  as  we  learn  a  little  mare  the  greater  things  come  round. 
I  often  think  we  leave  behind  our  littleness  and  spite, 
And  grow  by  these  to  something  great  —  to  love  and  truth  and 

right ; 

For  Mother  Earth  will  let  us  shout  and  have  our  holiday  — 
Vacation  time  when  school  is  out,  and  we  must  romp  and  play. 
She   knows   the   end   approaches    near,    and   she  can   straighten 

things, 

Control  our  wildness  by-and-by,  and  give  us  angel  wings. 
It 's  no  use  grumbling  things  to  death,  whate'er  our  lot  may  be, 
Whate'er  the  multitude  may  do,  or  we  in  churches  see. 
They  all  are  working,  high  or  low,  to  build  a  palace  fair  — 
A  structure  set  on  solid  ground  and  reaching  high  in  air. 
And  future  life  for  present  life  will  make  us  good  amends, 
And  all  is  well  and  wisely  done  that  well  and  wisely  ends; 
And  sure  as  now  and  then  unite,  I  must  believe,  for  one, 
Eternal  justice  hangs  o'er  all,  and  guides  our  lives,  friend  John ! 

119 


WHO  WILL  CHANGE  OLD  LAMPS  FOR  NEW  ? 


A  voice  came  down  the  Eastern  fold, 

A  foot  at  midnight  ranged  it ; 
"  New  lamps  for  old!     New  lamps  for  old! '" 

Aladdin's  wife  exchanged  it'. 

Ah !  such  the  wisdom  here  on  earth, 

The  trial  we  're  prepared  for;  % 
It  is  the  show,  and  not  the  worth, — 

The  tinsel's  all  that 's  cared  for ! 

Charles  Siva  in. 

f^H !  who  will  change  old  lamps  for  new  ?  "  we  hear  Magician 

V_y  cry, 

In  that  sweet  tale,  Ala  ddin's  Lamp,  we  read  in  days  gone  by ; 
Its  potent  charm  we  ne'er  forget,  't  was  boyhood's  pleasing  dream, 
And  things  unreal  that  it  described,  did  then  most  easy  seem. 
We  curse  the  guile  Aladdin's  foe  employed,  his  lamp  to  gain, 
And  list  the  cry,  "  New  lamps  for  old,"  with  hearts  all  full  of  pain  ; 
We  fear  his  treasure  will  be  lost  and  evil  master  prove, 
And  we  would  fain  preserve  it  safe,  with  our  protecting  love, 
For  this  dear  lamp  had  service  done,  which  made  its  worth  untold, 
And  we  a  lamp,  the  like  of  this,  in  fond  possession  hold, 
And  all  our  thought  should  likewise  be,  how  we  may  it  defend, 
Preserve  it  safe  from  foes  without,  and  its  good  reign  extend ; 
For  Reason  is  that  lamp,  you  know,  with  radiance  fair  and  true, 
And  we  must  turn  a  deaf,  deaf  ear  to,  "  Change  old  lamps  for  new  ? " 


120 


There  is  no  lamp  of  later  date  that  can  with  this  compare, 
That  can  make  life  so  beautiful,  and  Xature  half  so  fair ; 
Ah,  no  !  whate'er  Magician  says,  it  were  to  work  us  harm, 
And  when  he  comes  a-crceping  round  we  wish  to  sound  alarm! 
Beware  his  craftiness,  and  keep  the  old,  old  lamp  secure, 
And  then  your  future  way  is  clear,  your  present  blessing  sure. 
The  priest  may  come  and  make  his  bid,  and  try  to  gain  the  same, 
l!ut  our  alertness  spies  him  out  and  spoils  his  well-planned  game. 
We  know  that  Reason  brighter  is  than  all  his  new-made  lights, 
And  if  we  part  with  that,  we  circle  round  in  endless  nights. 
This  lamp  of  life,  as  old  as  life,  far  more  than  his  is  blest, 
And  poor  exchange  it  were  for  us  to  take  his  very  best ; 
Then  turn  upon  the  priest  and  say,  "  Our  dearest  friend,  adieu, 
We  cannot  heed  your  cunning  cry,  '  Who'  11  change  old  lamps  for 
new  ? '  " 

I  tell  you  what,  there's  magic  yet  in  this  old  lamp  of  ours, 
Upon  it  wait  the  genii  of  many  heavenly  bowers ! 
We  rub  its  surface,  then  appear  the  slaves  of  love  and  light, 
Assisting  us  to  all  we  wish,  for  they  are  clothed  with  might. 
We  want  for  naught  while  they  are  near,  responding  to  our  call, 
They  rise  and  say,  "  We  are  your  slaves,  and  serve  you  all  in  all !  " 
And  with  their  help  we  conquer  wrong,  and  bring  ourselves  release, 
And  lead  the  world  to  higher  life,  to  glory,  truth  and  peace  ! 
<  >ur  progress  in  the  past  has  been  with  this  advancing  aid, 
And  for  this  glorious  purpose  were  the  lamps  in  wisdom  made; 
Then  foolish  were  we  e'er  to  list  to  whit  the  priest  might  say, 
And  go  and  give  our  treasure  old  for  his  new  things  away  ; 
And  when  he  comes  with  offers  bland,  we  pass  them  in  review, 
And  say  to  him,  "  We  cannot  give  our  old,  old  lamps  for  newl  " 


But  turn  about  we  well  may  do,  and  offer  them  again, 

That  they  should  part  with  their  old  lamps,  so  homely,  old  and 

plain. 

God  never  meant  the  world  to  be  in  darkness  and  in  night, 
But  when  we  see  their  feeble  dips,  we  cry,  "  Let  there  be  light!  " 
And  priests  might  gain  a  prize,  as  yet  in  story  left  untold, 
If  they  were  wise  to  heed  the  cry,  "  Who  '11  change  for  new  the 

old  ? " 

Their  glimmerings  well  might  be  with  something  brighter  far  sup 
plied, 
And  their  old  dearth  of  living  faith  by  knowledge  satisfied. 

121  O 


Their  lamps  are  old  and  dimly  burn,  they  've  lost  their  cheering 

ray, 

And  so  exchange  to  them  were  giving  darksome  night  for  day. 
Theirs  cannot  serve  in  these  fair  times  of  progress  free  and  fast, 
And  one  by  one  we  see  them  now  aside  as  useless  cast. 
They  cast  them  off  and  take  to  ours,  as  we  the  picture  drew, 
And  shout,  "  Well  done  ! "  to  hear  the  cry,  "  Who  '11  change  old 

lamps  for  new  ?  " 

The  change  must  be  till  all  is  right,  't  is  useless  saying  nay, 
For  when  the  sun  appears  our  lamps  no  mo^e  with  us  may  stay ; 
And  bright  as  sun  true  knowledge  is,  that  comes  for  you  and  me , 
And  bright  as  sun  our  lamps  called  new  by  which  we  clearly  see. 
And  so  the  churches  cry,  "  We  '11  take  your  lamps  so  pure  and 

bright, 
Why  who  'd  believe  in  God's  dear  world  there   was   such  glowing 

light  ? " 
They  say,    "  Our   lamps  are  old  and  dim,  while  yours  in  beauty 

blaze, 

Ours  scarce  illume  the  dark,  while  yours  with  splendor  all  amaze  !  " 
The  people,  too,  repeat  the  cry,  "  Pray  take  these  lamps  outworn , 
What  need  have  we  of  candle-light  when  beauteous  day  is  born  ? " 
And  superstition's  light  goes  out,  and  Reason  shines  once  more, 
And  doubt  like  mist  departs  as  beams  the  light  from  yonder  shore  ; 
And  so  we  learn  the  want  is  felt  by  people  not  a  few, 
And  they  are  pleased  to  hear  our  cry,  "  Who  '11  change  old  lamps 

for  new  ? " 

God  bless  our  minds  with  wisdom  pure,  and  guide  us  all  aright, 
To  choose  the  lamps  that  shed  abroad  the  brighest  beams  of  light ; 
To  know  the  way  to  leave  the  old,  or  keep  it  as  is  best, 
And  find  in  keeping  or  exchange  the  love  that  gives  us  rest ! 
Oh,  let  the  people  keep  the  lamp  so  old  of  life  divine, 
The  Reason-light  that  clear  through  all  the  past  did  sweetly  shine  ; 
And  let  no  priest  in  wickedness  molest  or  steal  the  same, 
But  may  it  burn  with  clearer  glow,  with  far  illuming  flame. 
Still  may  all  lamps  outworn  by  time,  that  useless  prove  indeed  — 
The  lamps  of  foolish  churchal  forms  and  empty  shows  of  creed — 
May  these  be  given  now  away  for  better  that  we  know  ! 
And  all  the  sons  of  njen  with  love's  irradiant  knowledge  glow ! 
And  thus  the  cry  we  give,  that  from  amusing  fable  grew, 
Have  wisdom's  guiding  when  it  says,  "Who'll  change  old  lamps 
for  new  ? " 

122 
I 


MY    MOTHER. 


O  MOTHER,  there  are  names  that  fall  like  music  on  the  ear, 
Awaking  joyous  rapture  in  the  heart ; 
And  names  that  fall  like  light  till  all  of  dark  doth  disappear, 

And  Jordan  streams  beneath  their  footsteps  part ! 
And  there  are  noble  names  that  guide  us  still  through  regions  far, 
That  safely  guide  on  land  and  sea,  as  yon  bright  Northern  star  ! — 
Dear  mother,  such  thy  name,  and  such  thy  power  to  guide  aright, 
O  tender,  precious  name,  the  name  of  love,  and  peace,  and  light ! 

O  mother,  far  beneath  the  noisy  wave  are  riches  rare, 

And  caves  where  fabled  gods  and  fairies  dwell ; 
\nd  when  the  night  has  mantled  all  this  world  of  woe  and  care, 

The  golden  stars  their  tale  of  wonder  tell ! 
The  sea  says,  "  I  am  deep,    my  depths  how  will  ye  search  and 

sound  ?  " 

The  stars  repeat,  *'  full  many  an  Eden  in  our  spheres  is  found  !  " 
But  mother,  neither  sea  nor  stars  with  thy  pure  power  compare, 
And  what  my  heart  in  thy  brave  life  hath  found  no  words  declare ! 

O  mother,  see  the  pyramids  of  old  that  Egypt  claims, 

The  grandeur  that  still  graces  proudest  Rome  ; 
Or  note  the  vast  and  lofty  will,  the  high  heroic  aims 

Of  patriots,  martyrs  dying  for  their  home  1 

The  stone  subdues  the  mind  to  reverence  deep  and  feeling  strong, 
The  wondrous  love  enkindles  worship  breathing  sweetest  song ; 
But  mother  dear,  not  these  to  me  have  half  the  love  I  give, 
So  fully  give  to  thee,  and  must  while  soul  and  spirit  live! 


123 


THE   CHOICE   OF    DUTY. 

Thou  dost  wear 

The  Godhead's  most  benignant  grace  ; 
Nor  know  we  anything  so  fair 
As  the  smile  upon  thy  face ; 
Flowers  '.a'jgh  before  thee  on  their  beds  ; 
And  fragrance  in  thy  footing  treads, 
Thou  dost  preserve  the  stars  from  wrong ; 
And  the  most  ancient  heavens,  through  thee,  are  fresh  and  strong. 

Wordsiuo  rtk. 

THE  good  old  Greeks  this  wisdom  knew, 
That  duty  lies  betwixt  the  true  ; 
The  simple  duty  falls  to  few. 
The  wrong  does  not  offset  the  right ; 
The  darkness  stand  against  the  light ; 
The  just  oppose  the  bane  and  blight. 
Tis  not  the  flower  and  weed  we  see ; 
'Tis  not  the  fruit  and  fruitless  tree  ; 
Ah,  no !  not  thus  the  choice  will  be. 
The  gods  ordained  the  right  and  wrong 
To  mingle  well  like  prose  and  song; 
We  know  not  where  they  may  belong. 
Our  duties  clash  in  warfare  old  ; 
A  mighty  host  our  hearts  enfold, 
And  make  our  very  virtues  cold. 
We  hardly  know  the  which  to  take  ; 
We  seem  like  men  but  half  awake, 
And  purpose  good  sometimes  will  shake. 

We  grasp  a  good,  nor  lift  our  eyes 
To  one  that  higher  yet  will  rise, 
If  we  with  worthy  skill  were  wise. 
While  oft  we  cannot  tell  the  just, 
We  only  follow  common  trust, 
And  find  our  fairy  gains  are  dust. 

The  gods  forgive  us  all  our  sin, 
And  clear  this  atmosphere  of  din, 
And  epe  the  gates  we  enter  in. 

May  they  instruct,  sustain  and  guide, 
May  we  be  humble  and  confide, 
And  feel  their  presence  at  our  side. 

May  summer  pass  and  winter  wait, 
And  through  dark  death,  though  long  and  late, 
Restore  us  to  our  springtide  state  ! 
124 


YOUTH   AND   AGE. 


Youth  is  full  of  pleasance, 
A-u  is  full  of  care  ; 
Youth  like  summer  morn, 

•  winter  weather.  Shakspeare. 


'"THIK  spring-tide  trees  for  blossom, 

JL       For  bud  and  promise  of  gain, 
For  leaf  and  sweetest  of  fragrance, 

And  dewdrops  sparkling  rain  ; 
For  song  of  sweet  birds  singing, 

And  flutter  of  gladsome  wings, 
And  homes  in  high  boughs  swinging, 

Where  young  love  coos  and  sings ; 
For  joyousness  like  morning, 

For  freedom  free  as  seas, 
For  daylight  all  adorning, 

And  coming  like  the  breeze; 
The  spring  of  life  for  pleasure, 

For  beauty  fresh  and  fair, 
For  love  in  love's  full  measure, 

And  sweets  of  summer  air  ! 

The  winter  snows  for  whiteness, 

That  wrap  the  old  earth  warm, 
For  quiet  peace  in  quietness, 

And  loss  of  wild  alarm  ; 
For  sense  of  neaiing  heaven, 

As  round  the  gray  clouds  lie. 
And  touch  of  angel  leaven, 

From  nearness  of  the  sky  ; 
For  song  of  life  awaking, 

And  death  of  deathly  things, 
The  old  in  new  life  breaking, 

With  joy  the  new  life  brings  ; 
The  winter  thus  for  whiteness, 

For  death  destroying  death, 
For  breaking  forth  of  brightness, 

And  breathing  angel  breath  1 

I25 


MY    EARLY    SONGS. 


I    OFTEN  think  with  sweetest  joy  of  that  clear  time 
When  first  my  heart  burst  forth  in  flowing  song  and  rhyme 
The  earth  was  new  to  me,  fresh  life  was  born  around, 
I  trod  within  a  fairy  realm  —  enchanted  ground  ; 
The  wind  had  music  sweet  and  soft  and  low  and  dear, 
And  waters  cadence  pure  like  angels  whispering  near. 
The  sky  and  heaven  were  one  where'er  I  cast  my  eye, 
And  morn  and  eve  beside  the  golden  gates  did  lie ; 
And  men  were  men  to  me  in  spirit-garments  dressed, 
With  hope  and  joy  and  faith  and  all  that  makes  us  blessed ; 
Oh  !  sweet  was  all  the  world  when  first  I  sung  my  lays, 
And  tuned  my  youthful  harp  to  Mother  Nature's  praise  ! 

I  've  journeyed  long  and  far  in  life  since  then,  I  ween, 

And  change  on  change  have  known  and  men  and  manners  seen ; 

But  still  there's  something  lost,  a  glow  has  left  the  earth, 

A  freshness  steals  away  and  leaves  in  fullness,  dearth  ; 

In  vain  I  seek  to  build  once  more  the  tower  of  joy 

That  rose  with  magic  sweet  to  me,  the  minstrel  boy  ; 

My  heart  beat  high  with  strength  and  courage  strange  and  fair, 

I  could  what  heroes  could,  and  dared  what  martyrs  dare ; 

I  trod  the  earth  a  king,  supreme  in  conscious  pride, 

And  angels  were  to  me  companions  at  my  side  ; 

Oh !  sweet  was  all  the  world  when  first  I  sung  my  lays, 

And  tuned  my -youthful  harp  to  Mother  Nature's  praise  ! 

Oh !  sweet  the  time  as  grass  that  grows  on  all  the  hill 

Where  snows  so  long  have  been  and  faintly  linger  still ; 

As  sweet  as  this  to  eyes  that  pray  for  earth's  green  hue, 

Was  all  the  field  of  song  my  early  genius  knew ! 

I  bless  that  springtide  fair,  and  hold  it  dear  as  truth ; 

And  would  that  age  with  age  should  keep  that  touch  of  youth ; 

For  other  worlds  remain  for  that  same  soul  in  store, 

Whose  praise  I  fain  would  hymn  as  this  I  did  of  yore ; 

'Tis  this  completes  the  earth  and  makes  existence  sweet ; 

For  in  the  future  still  repeated  pasts  we  meet ; 

And  thus  I  bless  my  songs  —  though  common  grass  they  be  — 

For  'mid  the  springing  grass  the  summer  flowers  I  see ! 


126 


THE    POET   TRUE. 


Ah  I    cuii'.d  I  my  poet  only  draw 

In  Hi'.   -  i.f  a  living  light, 
\'(Hi  would  say  that  Shakspeare  never  saw 

In  his  dreams  a  fairer  sight.  Alice  Gary. 


HE  is  not  poet  true  who  sits  in  chamber  sweet, 
And  thinks  of  all  the  pretty  things  he  may  repeat, 
And  lolls  at  idle  ease  his  simple  sense  to  please, 
A  pure  and  placid  lake,  unruffled  by  the  breeze ; 
Who  writes  'mid  perfumes,  flowers,  and  all  things  gay; 
He  is  no  poet  true  whatever  ni^n  may  say; 
He  is  but  apt  in  verse,  and  skilled  with  rhyming  sound, 
And  his  soft  notes  by  nature's  music  soon  are  drowned  ! 


The  poet  true  has  soldier  heart  and  hands,  and  dares 
To  enter  soldier-like  in  all  our  hopes  and  cares; 
He  gladly  joins  the  fight,  and  strives  with  all  his  might ; 
He  dares  to  live  each  day  the  long  expected  Right ; 
He  lives  with  all  the  race,  and  loves  the  low  and  high, 
And  spans  them  all  with  light  as  does  the  arching  sky; 
He  breathes  divineness  o'er  this  shapeless  world  of  ours, 
And  like  the  summer  season  robes  the  earth  with  flowers? 


We  must  have  tinkling  verse  and  those  who  write  it  well, 

And  poets  true  that  these  as  sun  doth  moon  excel ; 

But  gladness  deep,  the  best  by  worlds  on  worlds  are  blest, 

And  like  God's  stars  in  perfect  Heaven  with  shining  rest ; 

They  live  for  ages  long  and  speak  for  every  time, 

And  stand  like  nature  wrapt  in  blessedness  sublime  ; 

And  angels  list  their  songs  so  varied  and  so  sweet, 

And  generations  grow  and  to  their  quick  pulsations  beat ! 


127 


DISENCHANTED. 


I  THOUGHT  I  were  a  poet  and  could  sing, 
And  tell  the  world  of  man  my  irtner  life, 

And  guide  the  forward  ranks  to  noble  strife, 
And  some  new  touch  of  truth's  revealing  bring  ; 
For,  from  the  first,  I  bird-like  took  to  wing, 

And  felt  a  flutter  stir  my  heart  and  lip, 

And  many  a  broken  song  from  me  would  slip, 
As  through  the  woods  and  fields  my  voice  did  ring  ! 
At  first  I  had  no  aim  or  purposed  end ; 

But  when  I  heard  the  elder  kings  of  song, 
To  sing  in  unison  my  soul  did  bend, 

And  thought  at  times  it  could  their  strain  prolong 
But  now  I  know  I  'in  but  a  twittering  bird, 
Unfit  to  tell  the  dreams  of  song  I  've  heard ! 


REVIVED. 

Yet  would  I  rather  in  the  outward  state 

Of  song's  immortal  Palace  lay  me  down, 

A  beggar  basking  by  that  golden  gate, 

Than  bend  beneath  the  haughtiest  Empire's  crown. 

For  sometimes,  through  the  bars,  my  tranced  eyes 

Have  caught  the  vision  of  a  life  divine, 

And  seen  a  far,  mysterious  rapture  rise 

Beyond  the  veil  that  guards  the  inmost  shrine. 

Paul  H.  Hay,*. 

I  CANNOT  break  the  spell ;  nor  can  distrust 
Of  my  own  worthiness  escape  the  task ; 

The  mission  came  to  me  —  I  did  not  ask 
To  sing  but  felt  the  impulse  there  —  I  must ! 
As  flowers  hear  the  call  of  Spring,  and  thrust 

The  earth  aside  and  in  the  sunshine  bask, 

So  did  I  hear  and  put  aside  the  mask 
That  hid  my  worth,  and  stand  in  strength  august ! 
And  if  I  fail  —  if  all  my  labor  comes 

To  emptiness  at  last  —  yet  I  was  glad 

That  I  could  sing  and  wear  away  the  sad, 
And  rise  by  song  o'er  woe  that  life  benumbs ; 
And  here  I  wait  with  glimpses  of  the  light 
That  comes  from  poet  regions  thro'  death's  night ! 

128 


THE   POET. 


OPOET,  thee  the  gods  have  crowned  the  best, 
Thy  power  exceeds  what  greatest  kings  have  known, 

Thou  sittest  on  a  far  more  royal  throne, 
And  by  more  subjects  art  in  love  caressed  ; 
Thy  sceptre  is  by  million  hearts  confest, 

A  power  of  peace  to  still  each  sigh  and  groan ; 

With  thee  the  years  as  happy  days  have  flown, 
With  thee  is  comfort,  glory,  love,  and  rest ! 
The  desert  blossoms  at  thy  word  of  might, 

The  dead  are  raised  to  aid  and  bless  our  days ; 
The  darkness  blooms  with  golden  flowers  of  light, 

And  ever  thus  thy  magic  glory  stays ; 
O  poet,  live  thy  life  of  high  success, 
And  let  thy  spirit  rule,  and  ruling  bless  ! 


THE    POET'S    MISSION. 


HT^HE  poet's  mission  is  divinest  song 
J.      That  wells  from  out  his  native  sense  of  right, 
And  spreads  o'er  earth,  beneath  the  span  of  light, 

And  moves  with  grace  as  rivers  move  along. 

O,  tell  him  not  to  hush  his  fire-tipt  tongue, 
Or  that  he  may  not  speak  whate'er  he  sees 
In  vale  or  hill,  sky,  water,  wood,  or  breeze, 

As  on  his  brain  the  rising  visions  throng. 

He  has  no  choice,  since  he  is  called  from  high, 
The  angels  press  him  to  their  service  meet, 

And  bring  to  men,  thro'  him,  the  far-off  sky, 
And  speak  the  secret  making  life  complete, 

And  teach  humanity  the  wonders  nigh, 
That  he  with  seeing  soul  doth  ever  meet ! 


I2Q 


READING    POETRY. 


I  CANNOT  read  thy  lays,  O  poet  sweet, 
'Mid  noise  and  jar  and  common  sounds  of  day, 

I  wish  to  steal  in  woods,  the  world  away, 
And  there  find  rest  at  my  beloved's  feet, 
And  read  thy  lays,  so  beautiful  and  sweet, 

For  her  bent  ear,  imparting  joyance  gay, 

And  whispering  to  her  heart  like  some  sweet  fay, 
My  humble  words  to  crown  and  make  complete. 
For  while  I  read  thy  love-lorn  breathing  song, 

I  call  it  mine,  and  make  it  so  in  part, 
I  breathe  thy  sighs  upon  my  own  sweet  tongue, 

To  touch  and  win  her  very  inward  heart : 
Thus,  at  the  close  of  some  sweet  summer  eve, 
I  read  the  lays  thy  poet-heart  did  weave  ! 


THE    POET  AND    NATURE. 


I  SOMETIMES  grow  morose  and  cross  at  heart, 
Because  of  little  petty  cares  and  frets, 
And  turn  to  Nature  with  my  pain  and  smart, 

That  she  may  heal  my  sadness  and  regrets ; 
But  all  in  vain  the  sky  may  beam  so  bright, 

And  fields  look  green  and  trees  spread  out  their  shade, 
To  let  them  have  their  full  consoling  light 

The  heart  of  poet  sure  by  God  was  made. 
I  hear  the  voice  of  Burns  or  Keats  speak  sweet, 

And  Nature  clusters  round  to  hear  their  tale, 
And  listening  joy  and  peace  together  meet, 

And  to  console  and  bless  perforce  prevail ; 
And  thus  I  find  the  two  as  one  do  blend, 
And  both  are  then  to  me  a  helpful  friend ! 


130 


CHAUCER. 


OLD  Chaucer,  first  and  fairest  English  flower, 
Our  day's-eye  glowing  in  the  dewy  dawn  ; 

Our  day's-eye  on  our  spreading  greensward  lawn, 
That  leads  to  England's  fair  poetic  bower  ; 
Our  day's-eye  'neath  the  Spring's  fresh  fruitful  shower, 

Whom  we  with  gracious  love  still  fondly  fawn, 

Such  seeds  as  thine  few  soils  in  beauty  spawn, 
For  thou  wert  born  in  God's  most  favorite  hour ! 
We  love  thee,  Dan,  our  good  old  tell-tale  friend  ; 

We  love  thine  honest  choicer  chosen  name, 
For  from  the  past  sweet  blessings  thou  dost  send, 

And  large  and  full  poetic  golden  fame ; 
And  we  thy  olden  honor  firm  defend, 

And  bless  the  flower  that  thus  propitious  came  1 


SCOTT. 


THY  pen,  Magician,  calls  the  dead  to  life, 
And  bids  the  past  return  in  pictured  mood, 

In  light  romance  to  be  our  mental  food, 
And  fill  our  hearts  with  honor,  hope,  and  strife, 
Till  chivalry  and  grace  in  us  are  rife, 

And  we  with  pilgrim  love  the  holy  rood, 

And  pass  to  scenes  of  peace  where  none  intrude, 
But  those  to  poetry  wed  —  and  claim  it  wife. 
My  heart  is  filled  with  valor's  ancient  fame, 

With  beauty's  pride  in  queenly  richness  worn  ; 
My  soul  with  their  ambition  is  aflame, 

And  from  my  mind  the  veil  of  time  is  torn ; 
I  live  with  thee  and  kings,  and  dames,  and  knights, 
In  that  far  past  thy  magic  story  lights ! 


KEATS 

OBARD  of  many  songs  of  truest  tone, 
The  sweet,  sweet  promise  of  thy  soul's  great  prime, 

Reformer-like,  thou  cam'st  before  thy  time, 
Before  our  worldling  hearts  thy  heart  could  own. 
Thy  worth,  thy  greatness  stood  in  state  alone, 

And  carping  critics  cared  to  know  thee  not ; 

Their  petty  rules  thy  giant  mind  o'ershot ; 
But,  thanks  to  time,  our  loves  to  thine  have  grown  ! 
We  prize  thee  now  as  some  angelic  sprite 

That  told  of  paradise  and  things  of  God, 
And  wrought  in  ancient  form  the  present  right, 

And  earth  with  gentle  step  of  angels  trod. 
Sleep  sweetly  in  the  clear,  clear  dawning  light, 

The  flowers  of  love  and  fame  adorn  thy  sod  1 


SHELLEY. 


''  I  "*  IS  all  unmeet  to  praise  the  life  in  death, 

-L      And  come  with  flowers  where  stones  with  curse  were 

thrown, 
'Tis  nothing  more  than  false,  conceited  breath, 

Seen  through  as  such,  as  such  poor  nothing  known. 
Now  thousands  lisp  thee  praise  thy  fame  beneath, 

To  whom  thy  grandeur  ne'er  one  hour  was  shown. 
Well  may  thy  martyr'd  soul  despise  these  weeds  ; 

Not  for  such  homage  didst  thou  live  and  die  ; 
But  through  thy  works  is  heard  the  voice  that  pleads 

With  hearts  that  list  for  duty  great  and  high, 
And  says  :  "  Ye  love  !  then  live  in  love-like  deeds, 

And  to  my  work  your  sympathy  supply  : 
Let  priestcraft  fail,  let  hate  and  envy  cease, 
And  live  for  good,  for  brotherhood  and  peace  !  " 


132 


BURNS. 


SO  many  flowers  on  thy  grave,  O  bard,  are  laid, 
From  every  clime  where  Saxon  speech  doth  sound, 

That  I  no  place  for  e'en  a  daisy  found, 
And  stood  with  trembling,  like  a  girl  afraid, 
When  I  bethought  how  beautiful  thou'dst  made 

The  gowan  grow  —  and  I  took  heart  and  set 

It  on  the  sod,  with  tears  of  sorrow  wet,  — 
That  men  in  life  thy  genius  could  upbraid  ! 
O  pride  of  all  the  world,  thou  King  of  song, 

The  North's  delightful  nightingale  —  or  lark;  — 
Clear  moving  as  the  summer  seas,  and  strong ;  — 

A  star  bright  burning  in  the  zenith  dark ;  — 
A  name  to  love,  to  cherish,  and  esteem, 
While  hearts  have  love,  and  souls  delight  in  dream  ! 


BYRON. 


HOW  many  idle  hours  I've  spent  with  thee, 
Beguiled  by  thy  strange  speech  and  language  pure ; 

Boy-like  I  've  dreamed,  and  thy  bright  star  would  lure 
My  feet  to  woods,  high  hills,  and  by  the  sea  ! 
A  bird  I  seemed  on  pinions  strong  and  free  ; 

A  giant  soul  wild  ventures  to  endure  ; 

A  spirit  swift  that  could  the  light  secure, 
And  sweep  the  reach  of  time  while  time  should  be  ! 
O  passion  crost !  O  weak  and  wayward  child  ! 

Fortune^  poor  fool,  and  poesy's  restless  seer  !  — 
A  river  vast  by  strength  of  current  riled, 

With  vistas  where  the  world  is  mirrored  clear  ! — 
A  kingdom  rich  with  memories  of  the  past  !  — 
A  sturdy  oak  that's  stricken  with  the  blast ! 


133 


TENNYSON. 


O     SWEET  and  low  like  winds  from  rustling  bowers, 
And  bright  as  sails  that  touch  the  Western  sky, 
And  filled  with  odor  like  the  clover-flowers, 

Thy  breath  of  poesy  passes  sweetly  by ! 

To  thee  with  joyance  oft  I  bird-like  fly, 
And  spend  as  in  the  summer  woods  the  hours, 

That  else  would  heavy  on  my  bosom  lie, 
And  dull  my  spirit's  fond  awaking  powers. 
With  thee  the  roses  bloom  and  forests  rise, 

And  kings  and  queens  live  out  the  life  of  old, 

And  birds  proclaim  the  sweetness  of  their  song, 
And  all  is  changing  love  and  enterprise, 

The  green-leaf  shade  and  glorious  hues  of  gold, 

And  earth  revealed  as  by  an  angel  tongue  ! 


CELIA   THAXTER. 


DEAR  poet,  dear  because  of  one  we  've  lost, 
One  sweet  child-heart  that  loved  thy  verses  well, 

And  could  thy  charming  tales  of  sea-life  tell, 
As  though  herself  the  wide,  wild  sea  had  crost, 
Known  all  its  soothing  calm  —  been  tempest-tost. 

And  rocked  upon  its  blissful  fall  and  swell, 

And  lived  where  only  skies  and  wild  birds  dwell ;  — 
One  that  we  can  no  more,  no  more  accost ! 
Far  o'er  the  sea  she  sailed,  "  the  sun  dropped  down," 

The  harbor-lights  were  lost,  the  stars  were  dim, 
The  blackening  heavens  did  o'er  us  shriek  and  frown, 

And  yet  afar  we  heard  her  triumph  hymn ; 
Back  breaks  the  storm  and  dies  along  the  shore, 
The  day  comes  out  —  for  we  shall  meet  once  more  ! 


LONGFELLOW. 


A  SHIP  full  freighted  from  a  foreign  strand, 
With  precious  gifts  from  empires  of  the  earth, 

The  seamen  singing  in  their  happy  mirth. 
While  we  await  and  welcome  them  to  land ! 
Ah !  here  they  come,  a  white-robed  sacred  band, 

And  spread  afar,  as  children  at  their  play, 

And  teach  us  pastime  pleasant  as  the  May :  — 
The  barge  of  Cleopatra —  not  so  grand  ! 
And  he  that  led  the  crew,  their  captain  great, 

Sent  his  sweet  voice  in  echoes  o'er  the  hills, 
That  Orpheus-like  restores  our  golden  state, 

A.nd  resurrection  strength  in  all  instils: — 
Is  this  a  dream  —  a  god  from  classic  realm, 
Apollo's  seneschal  proud  standing  at  the  helm? 


WHITTIER. 


NO  times  but  what  are  fresh  with  germs  of  life, 
And  come  demanding  poet's  potent  voice, 

Awaking  dead  dull  hearts  to  make  their  choice, 
To  choose  'twixt  right  and  wrong,  as  for  a  wife, 
To  choose  the  true  and  dare  its  toil  and  strife ; 

We  know  that  sweetest  heaven  is  over  all, 

We  know  that  thou  hast  heard  its  prophet  call, 
And  speak'st  in  tones  that  chord  with  drum  and  fife. 
O  how  my  heart  uplifts  to  hear  thee  speak, 

And  clings  to  patriot  worth  the  past  has  known, 
And  how  it  beats  to  cover  all  the  weak, 

And  give  to  man  as  man  his  manhood's  own  ; 
'Tis  purpose  great,  no  faint  and  passing  freak, 

And  thus  from  thee  my  life  has  nobjer  grown  ! 


"MOSSES,"  BY  M.  F.  BRIDGMAN,  M.D. 


I  LOVE  thee,  friend,  for  these  sweet  words  of  thine, 
Their  quiet  peace,  their  love  of  Nature  clear  ; 

I  love  to  walk  the  fields  with  thee  and  hear 
The  song  of  birds,  and  see  the  summer  shine ; 
I  love  with  thee  to  breathe  the  air  divine 

That  fans  at  morn  or  eve  the  student's  brow ; 

I  love  to  see  the  flowers  in  joyance  bow, 
And  all  the  scenes  thy  verses  picture  fine ! 
There's  music  in  thy  tone,  there's  health  and  cheer, 

Yet  chastened  memories  murmur  sweet, 
And  faded  friendships  and  broken  loves,  I  fear, 

In  undertone  the  cultured  senses  greet; 
Yet  classic-crowned  and  rich  with  modest  worth, — 
The  green  woods'  grace,  the  sweets  of  Eden  earth  ! 


JOHN   W.    CHADWICK. 


THY  "Book  of  Poems"  I  saw  one  summer  day, 
As  though  some  charmed  woodland  glade  I'd  found, 

That  Shakspeare's  fairies  with  their  art  had  crowned 
To  win  the  soul  in  solitude  to  stay ! 
'T  was  joy  with  thee  on  sea  or  shore  to  stray, 

And  list  the  winds  and  waves  their  songs  resound, 

Or  climb  the  hills  or  tread  God's  holy  ground, 
And  hold  converse  as  Nature's  minstrel  may ! 
Then  life  grew  up  so  earnest  and  so  blest 

With  laughter,  childhood  and  religion's  reign ; 
And  after  toil  there  came  the  Promised  Rest, 

With  visions  that  the  pure  in  heart  maintain  : 
Like  lilies  growing  all  in  grasses  green, 
Like  burning  stars  thy  happy  words  were  seen  1 


136 


ALICE  AND    PHCEBE   GARY. 


WE  heard  two  birds  sing  soft  and  clear, 
Like  skylarks  o'er  our  head; 
They  sang  full  long  the  sweetest  song, 
.Dispelling  all  the  dark  and  drear ; 
But  now  their  song  is  dead  1 

We  saw  two  flowers  that  gemmed  the  sod, 

And  sweetest  perfume  shed; 
•So  fair  and  light,  so  s'.veet  and  bright, 
That  sure  they  were  beloved  of  God ; 

But  now  those  flowers  are  dead  ! 

We  hailed  two  stars  that  filled  our  sky, 

With  beaming  gold  and  red ; 
They  were  a  guide  both  far  and  wide, 
Directing  many  a  wandering  eye  ; 

But  now  those  stars  are  fled  I 

We  prized  two  hearts  that  were  complete, 

That  all  the  virtues  wed; 
In  love  and  might,  in  truth  and  right, 
They  lived  and  loved  like  angels  sweet ; 

But  now  those  hearts  are  dead  ! 

We  had  two  souls  with  faith  serene, 

Whose  rays  our  footsteps  led  ; 
Made  earth  more  dear,  and  heaven  more  near, 
And  showed  in  light  the  dark  unseen ; 

But  now  those  souls  are  dead ! 

Not  dead,  not  dead,  though  bud  and  flower, 

And  sweetest  stars  are  fled ; 
Their  lives  so  pure  in  love  endure, 
And  dwell  in  God's  most  peaceful  bower ; 

They  are,  they  are  not  dead  I 


137 


GERALD    MASSEY. 


OPOET  of  the  people,  and  lover  of  the  poor, 
The  masses  love  thee' kindly,  true  love  from  them  is  sure  ?- 
Thy  songs  are  full  of  music  to  charm  the  weary  ear, 
To  usher  in  the  golden  and  drive  away  the  drear. 
Thy  songs  are  full  of  helping,  such  help  the  people  pray 
To  guide  them  in  their  journey  and  light  their  darksome  way. 
They  seek  such  songs  for  cheering,  such  cheer  as  nature  gives. 
And  that  divine  uplifting  from  soul  that  truly  lives  ! — 
So  blest  art  thou,  our  poet,  so  we  thy  praises  sing, 
And  crowns  of  royal  beauty  to  deck  thy  forehead  bring  ! 

'Tis  now  the  poet's  mission  to  sing  and  aid  the  poor, 

Not  seek  the  lordly  mansion,  but  laborer's  cottage  door; — 

To  sing  for  all  the  lowly  who  toil  for  daily  brea,d, 

To  dry  their  eyes  of  weeping  and  see  that  they  are  fed  !  — 

The  birds  and  brooks  are  singing,  but  all  in  vain  they  sing, 

The  flowers  sweet  are  springing,  but  all  in  vain  they  spring,  — 

And  so  comes  forth  the  poet,  and  tells  his  tale  of  love. 

And  breaks  the  spell  that  binds  us  and  leads  to  life  above !  — 

Thus  blest  art  thou,  our  poet,  that  canst  such  beauty  sing, 

And  crowns  of  royal  beauty  to  grace  thy  brow  we  bring! 


138 


'1  he  elder  potts"  singing  we  never  can  foiL 
T.ut  far  too  high  their  music  for  common  minds  is  set,  —  * 

While  thy  sweet  songs  are  easy,  because  they  take  our  part, 
And  speak  right  out  our  sorrows,  and  show  to  us  our  heart ! 
Thy  life  has  known  our  toiling,  and  trod  our  weary  way, 
Has  known  our  fierce  life  struggle,  the  dark  embittered  fi 
Thy  eyes  have  seen  oar  sadness,  thy  soul  has  shared  our  aim. 
And  thou  hast  sung  our  longing,  and  won  thyself  a  name  !  — 
So  blest  art  thou,  our  poet,  and  loud  thy  praises  ring, 
And  lo,  we  weave  our  garlands  to  crown  thee  poet  —  king! 

\Ve  take  the  common  flowers  that  grace  our  own  green  fields, 
»We  take  the  richest  roses  that  cultured  garden  yields ; 
We  take  the  oak  and  ivy,  brave  strength  and  clinging  love, 
We  take  the  sweetling  daisy  that  by  the  wayside  throve ; 
We  take  the  graceful  laurel,  the  bay  the  ancients  wore. 
We  take  all  wealth  and  beauty,  that  men  have  held  in  store ; 
We  take  them  all  and  bind  them,  and  weave  them  in  a  crown  ; 
To  show  our  love  is  loving  and  gives  thee  high  renown  !  — 
So,  poet  of  the  people,  be  not  afraid  to  sing, 
For  we  the  people  love  thee,  and  crown  thee  poet  —  king! 


Be  blest  with  purest  blessing  from  hands  the  proud  despise, 

Be  cheered  with  fond  caressing  from  many  a  poor  man's  eyes !  • 

Be  brave  to  carry  forward  the  banner  of  our  cause, 

Be  strong  in  all  thy  weakness,  the  world  shall  give  applause ! 

Be  not  afraid  the  people  will  leave  thee  in  the  fight, 

Be  not  afraid  the  humble  retreat  from  truth  and  right  I 

Be  brave,  and  just,  and  noble,  and  sing  the  praise  of  men, 

Be  all  that  stamps  thee  poet  with  noble  life  and  pen  !  — 

And  thou  shalt  be  our  poet,  and  all  our  love-life  sing, 

And  we  will  weave  thee  garlands,  and  crown  thee  poet  —  king! 


139 


TO  BRET  HARTE, 

From  the  Pacific  Coast. 

T  T  7E  bring  thee  flowers  from  vale  and  hill,. 

V  V      Tho'  wild  and  void  of  garden  care, 
Pacific  flowers  thou  lovest  still, 

In  Eastern  clime  for  thee  to  wear. 
The  miners  rough  thy  heart  did  see, 

With  Christ-like  force  and  loving  ken, 
Their  praise  so  sweet  thy  praise  shall  be. 

And  write  thy  love  for  fellow  men ! 

Xo  nobler  task  was  ope  to  thee 

Than  praising  long  neglected  ore  ; 
'Neath  trodden  sand  thy  eye  could  see, 

The  gold  for  which  we  all  explore. 
'Tis  time  the  poet  saw  like  God, 

That  knows  for  none  the  least  disdain  ; 
And  loves  as  doth  the  verdant  sod, 

That  Rose  and  Thistle  will  maintain ! 

Go  East,  or  come  to  us  once  more, 

We  care  not  so  thy  Soul  is  true, 
Be  here  or  list  the  Atlantic  roar, 

We  never  now  can  say  "  Adieu !  " 
Or  Truthful  James  or  poet  speak, 

Yet  still  we  own  the  voice  as  ours, 
And  with  pure  love  for  thee  we  seek, 

And  twine  for  thee  these  garland  flowers  f 


140 


TO    MY  PEN. 

The  gift  of  E.  F.  Rogers. 

WRITE,  pen  of  gold,  thy  golden  thanks  to  one  I  love  so  well, 
In  clear  and  graceful  curves  convey  the  tidings  I  would  tell . 
Tell  him  from  me  in  sweetest  lines,  thyself  I  hold  most  dear, 
And  that  thy  voice,  so  true  and  sweet,  shall  whisper  in  my  ear;  — 
Shall  whisper  like  the  pine-tree  dark,  how  we  discoursed  of  love, 
And  how  like  son  to  father  kind,  my  heart  to  him  did  move  !  — 
Shall  whisper  like  the  night-wind's  breath,  and  call  his  form  to  me, 
And  all  the  happy  times  we've  spent  in  friendship's  witchery  1 
And  say,  moreover,  in  thy  speech,  within  thee  lies  a  spell 
The  past  and  future  to  unite,  where  we  as  one  shall  dwell :  — 
For  golden  memories  thou  dost  wake,  and  golden  vistas  draw, 
And  hem  us  in  some  little  isle,  the  happy  Grecian  saw !  — 
And  there  we  spend  immortal  youth,  fed  by  the  life-tree  fair  ; 
And  all  we  loved  sail  to  that  shore,  and  our  thanksgiving  share. 
There's  one  that  just  has  left  our  strand, — we  see  her  boat  afar 
Rest  on  the  rich  horizon's  rim,  like  morning's  melting  star! 

There's  one  that  went  long  years  ago,  her  brother,  frank  and  fair, 
Whose  message  oft  illuminates  the  darkening  realms  of  air  ! 

Yes,  none  are  lost  that  we  have  known,  tho'  lost  they  seem  to  be, 
The  spirit  birds  to  Summer  fled,  where  we  anon  shall  flee  I 

And  not  in  vain  these  visions  come,  and  not  in  vain  we  love, 
The  heavenly  treasures  of  to-day  no  morrows  may  remove ! 

And  thus  the  seeds  sown  by  the  road  bear  kindly  fruit  alway, 
And  cheer  us  like  the  shining  light  of  hope's  meridian  ray ! 

My  heart  responds  to  thee,  O  pen,  pray  tell  this  thought  to  him, 
And  love  is  mine  that  may  not  fade  till  sun  and  stars  grow  dim! 

For  little  were  this  feeling  worth,  and  baser  gift  more  meet, 
If  this  my  gratitnde  could  wilt,  like  rose-leaves  fair  and  fleet. 
Write,  pen  of  gold  thy  golden  thanks,  as  speaking  from  my  heart, 
And  bind  us  both  in  freedom's  bonds  —  the  ages  never  part ! 

I  have  no  fear,  for  writing  lives,  and  lives  the  golden  pen, 
The  future  waits  thee  with  acclaim,  and  waits  to  bless  us  then! 
Thus  precious  metal,  precious  be,  and  clasp  us  with  thy  gold, 
And  write  in  lines  the  angels  love,  the  loves  our  lives  enfold  ! 
So  pen,  my  pen,  his  friendly  gift,  be  thou  our  medium  kind, 
And  write  the  whisper  of  our  hearts,  the  utterance  of  our  mind  ; 
And  as  the  seasons  come  and  go,  remain  our  mutual  friend, 
As  we  remain  thro'  chance  and  change,  and  will  world  without  end  1 
141 


PRESENT    INSPIRATION. 


INSPIRATION  is  to-day 
As  it  was  in  olden  times, 
God  with  men  remains  for  aye, 

Here  as  in  the  Eastern  climes  ; 
Now  he  breathes  his  spirit  out, 

All  the  race  to  cheer  and  bless, 
Driving  from  us  fear  and  doubt, 
Bringing  peace  and  happiness! 

Let  us  live  to  gain  this  joy, 

Live  and  walk  as  those  of  old, 
Caring  not  though  foes  annoy, 

Like  the  Hebrew  prophets  bold  ! 
Be  awake  the  word  to  hear, 

Be  alive  the  truth  to  see, 
Knowing  love  is  ever  near 

Such  as  love  her  libertv ! 


WORD    AND    DEED. 

THE  word  may  be  as  fair 
As  dawning  of  the  light, 
May  rainbow  feeling  share, 

Yet  have  no  beauty  bright, — 
For  let  the  deed  deny 

The  word  that  promised  fair, 
And  lo !  we  pass  it  by, 
As  birds  the  vacant  airl 

The  word  is  dead  and  cold, 

If  in  the  hour  of  need, 
\Ve  would  the  word  unfold, 

And  yet  withdraw  the  deed. 
Then  let  our  words  be  fair, 

But  fairer  far  our  deeds, 
So  that  the  trees  may  bear 

The  fruit  denied  to  seeds  ! 

142 


THE   WRITTEN    WORD. 


CHRIST  wrote  no  word  to  bind  the  race 
From  further  life  and  higher  grace  ; 
He  only  wrote  on  fleeting  sand, 
With  down-bent  head  and  caretess  hand, 
And  what  he  wrote  we  do  not  know, 
It  faded  like  the  fading  snow ! 

His  life  was  all  the  grace  he  left, 

His  life  of  which  we  stand  bereft, 

His  life  of  love  and  noble  deed, 

That  came  to  meet  our  want  and  need ; 

His  words  might  change  with  changing  time 

But  life  and  love  remain  sublime  ! 

O,  shame  on  church  with  creeds  and  words, 
O,  shame,  we  say,  they're  not  the  Lord's, 
He  knew  them  not,  —  so  shame  on  you, 
That  ye  their  burdens  still  renew; 
We  want  his  life,  his  noble  deeds, 
And  not  the  farce  of  useless  creeds ! 

So  learn  this  lesson  good  and  wise, 
That  Christian  life  alone  we  prize  ; 
Then  live  with  love,  and  all  your  life. 
Will  be  with  Christian  virtue  rife, 
And  thus  your  faith  will  grow  and  spread, 
And  live  and  thrive  when  you  are  dead  ! 


F 


A  LONGING  FOR   THE    SEA. 


Listen  alone  beside  the  sea, 

Listen  alone  among  the  woods ; 

Those  voices  of  twin  solitudes 
Shall  have  one  sound  alike  to  thee. 

Dante  Gabriel  Rossetti. 


AR  inland  I've  a  yearning  to  reach  the  piteous  sea, 
To  hear  its  gentle  murmur,  and  feel  its  impulse  free. 


I  cross  on  eagle  pinions  the  intervening  space, 
And  view  it  in  its  glory,  behold  it  in  its  grace! 

The  crested  waves  are  flowing  and  ripple  on  the  sand, 
The  tides  are  coming,  going,  embrace  and  leave  the  land ! — 

The  boats  are  in  the  harbor,  and  fly  upon  its  breast, 
The  vessels  ride  at  anchor,  the  seamen  take  their  rest ! — 

The  sun  reflects  his  beauty  within  the  waters  wide, 

The  lighthouse  gives  its  guiding,  the  moon  walks  on  in  pride  ; 

The  breezes  fair  are  blowing  to  cool  the  heated  shore, 

Or  the  winds  of  wrecks  are  wailing  and  moaning  evermore  ! 

A  thousand  fancies  haunt  me  of  Skippers  tried  and  true, 
That  went  to  realms  of  wonder  —  the  heritage  of  few. 

And  I  am  lost  in  dreaming  of  all  the  past,  past  days, 
I  seek  to  share  their  glory  because  I  love  their  praise. 

I  wander  with  the  Norsemen,  our  fathers  of  the  main, 
And  join  the  elder  heroes  in  stirring  warfare  slain. 

I  walk  the  deck  with  Raleigh,  go  round  the  world  with  Cook, 
And  bind  my  heart  to  Nelson  that  France's  bulwarks  shook. 

And  all  my  blood  is  boiling  with  love  of  this  wild  life, 
The  ancient  daring  spirit  that  courted  death  and  strife. 

I  joy  beyond  all  telling  to  think  of  ocean  vast, 
To  tread  beside  its  margin  or  sail  before  the  mast. 

And  I  am  wrapt  in  gladness  to  muse  on  things  like  these, 
And  while  within  the  woodlands  to  float  on  far-off  seas ! 

144 


LOSSES. 


In  death  and  living, 
With  one  tl: 
Praise  Him  whose  hnnd  is  the  strength  of  the  sea. 

A  Igernon  C.  Swinburne. 

A.MOT1IKR  on  the  shore  one  morning  sat  with  joy, — 
A  joy  unfelt  before,  to  welcome  back  her  boy, — 

Her  only  son  who  went  far  o'er  the  rolling  sea, 
With  dutiful  intent,  a  sailor  brave  to  be ! 

Her  love  in  rapture  wild  portrayed  his  glad  return; 
And  then  in  feelings  mild,  in  happy  light  did  burn! 

And  long  in  hope  she  staid  with  sand,  and  sky,  and  sea, 
Till  hope  and  day  did  fade,  for  ne'er  to  her  came  he  ! 

The  boy  on  slippery  deck  of  ship  that  faced  the  storm, 
Amid  the  falling  wreck  did  pray  for  mother's  form. 

Thro'  driving  sleet  and  rain  he  saw  the  distant  shore, 
And  reached  his  home  again,  alas!  his  home  no  more! 

His  prayers  ascended  high  that  she  might  blessed  be  ; 
A  nd  in  the  realm  of  sky,  they  may  each  other  see ! 

On  came  the  waters'  swell,  engulfing  ship  so  brave, 

"  Oh  !  mother,  fare-thee-well,  we  meet  beyond  the  grave  !  " 

Yes,  here  the  mother  waits,  and  there,  the  son  may  pray, 
But  cruel  are  the  fates  attending  on  our  way, 

And  when  we  long  the  most,  and  most  our  bliss  discern, 
Upon  the  main  or  coast,  the  prayer  and  hope  they  spurn ! 

Ah !  cease  to  think  this  ill,  and  faithfully  believe, 

They  serve  the  Father's*  will,  instructing  where  we  grieve. 

Thus  let  us  meet  each  loss,  in  faith  it  must  be  right, 
A  crown  repays  the  cross,  and  darkness  turns  to  light ! 

145  R 


THE    SAILOR'S    DEPARTURE  AND    RETURN. 

HE  needs  must  go,  the  sea  invites  away, 
Though  wife  and  friends  beseech  that  he  should  stay, 
His  gallant  ship  rides  proudly  in  the  bay, 
And  he  must  go  at  earliest  break  of  day- 
But,  O,  he  knows  he  shall  return  ere  long, 

The  stormy  waves  at  times  may  dash  and  roar, 
Yet  o'er  it  all  he  hears  the  household  song, 

And  that  will  guide  and  bring  him  safe  to  shorer 
So  with  sweet  tears  and  kindly  words  he  goes, 

Shakes  hands  and  bids  his  friends  a  fond  adieu, 
He  clasps  his  wife  and  chides  her  weeping  woes, 

And  whispers  love  her  courage  to  renew  ; 
And  out  he  sails  when  morning  gems  the  sea, 
With  love  of  home,  vet  careless,  wild,  and  free ! 


Full  many  months  have  passed  since  he  has  gone, 

He  sent  a  letter  saying  all  was  well, 
He  sent  to  home  and  his  beloved  one, 

With  whom  ere  long  he  hopes  once  more  to  dwell: 
'He  pictures  how  they  hope  and  wait  for  him, 
And  sees  his  home  made  bright  thro'  distance  dim. 
Then  rolling  sea  no  more  has  terrors  grim, 
As  o'er  its  waves  like  birds  they  swiftly  skim. 
But  ah  !   at  last  when  he  returns  with  cheer, 

Where  hope  and  rich  assurance  safely  led, 
His  home  is  dark  and  all  the  hamlet  drear, 

For  O,  his  well  bejoved  wife  is  dead  ; 
Her  grave,  and  parting  words  his  treasures  prove, 
But  O,  the  pain  of  disappointed  love  ! 


146 


WE    WANDERED   ON    THE   BEACH, 


Ay,  call  it  holy  ground, 

The  soil  where  first  they  trod ; — 
They  have  left  unstained  what  there  they  found, — 

Freedom  to  worship  God. 

Felicia  Hematit, 

WE  wandered  on  the  open  beach, 
Beside  old  pleasant  Plymouth  town, 
To  hear  the  wheeling  sea-gulls  screech, 

And  search  the  sands  all  up  and  down  : 
We  saw  the  ships  go  sailing  by, 

We  heard  the  wild  waves  dash  and  roar, 
We  saw  the  clouds  adorn  the  sky, 
A<  t!i us  we  wandered  on  the  shore  ! 

It  was  not  in  the  summer  time, 

When  all  is  fair,  and  bright,  and  gay, 
When  all  the  season  rolls  sublime, 

But  on  an  Autumn's  darkling  day; 
The  wind  blew  fresh  with  vigor  strong, 

The  heavens  were  lowering,  bare,  and  brown, 
But  we  were  gay  as  poet's  song, 

Beside  the  beach  of  Plymouth  town ! 

'T  was  here  the  good  old  Pilgrims  came, 

'Twas  here  their  seed  of  Freedom  grew, 
And  there  is  virtue  in  the  name, 

And  blessings  from  their  spirits  true  : 
And  we  had  joy  in  all  the  scene, 

The  ocean  stretching  far  and  wide,  • 

With  belts  of  land  that  lie  between, 

And  break  the  sweep  of  rising  tide  ! 

We  wandered  on  the  sandy  beach, 

And  culled  with  rapture  shells  and  weeds, 
For  these  afar  will  lessons  teach 

Of  friendship,  with  its  helps  and  needs : 
They  '11  tell  me  true  of  kindness  clear 

And  pleasures  I  have  known  of  yore, 
And  bring  to  me  for  many  a  year, 

The  day  we  spent  by  Plymouth  shore ! 


PEARLS   FROM   OUT   THE   SEA. 


What  hid'st  them  in  thy  treasure-caves  and  cells? 

Thou  hollow-sounding  and  mysterious  main  !  — 
Pale  glistening  pearls  and  rainbow-colored  shells,. 

Bright  things  which  gleam  unrecked  of  and  in  vain ! 

Fclic,, 

THE  sea  of  life  is  rich  with  gems, 
The  gems  of  love,  and  truth,  and  right, 
And  brighter  far  than  diadems, 

However  fair  with  lustre  bright  r 
Dive  down  beneath  the  ocean  wave, 

Where  all  these  treasures  safely  be, 
And  bring  them  forth  as  from  their  grave, 
The  pearls  of  life  from  out  the  sea! 

The  soul  of  love  and  honest  pride, 

The  smile  of  cheer  in  sickly  hour, 
The  hopeful  heart,  whate'er  betide, — 

These  may  reward  thee  with  their  dower  \ 
Go  preach  to  worshippers  of  gold, 

How  fair  and  famed  these  virtues  be, 
And  say  to  all  the  race :  Behold, 

Behold  these  pearls  from  out  the  sea  \ 

We  've  spent  our  time  in  foolish  quest 

Of  fading  things  like  glittering  gold, 
While  pearls  like  these  with  worth  confest, 

In  public  marts  have  ne'er  been  sold. 
Have  we  no  care  to  shine  with  these  ? 

To  dress  our  minds  with  beauty  free  ? 
Then  seek  the  gems  that  truly  please, 

These  pearls  of  love  from  out  the  sea  t 

We  love  these  riches,  since  they  live 

When  other  riches  fade  away  ; 
We  must  our  all  of  trifles  give, 

For  one  of  these  pure  pearls  to  pay  ; 
But  buy  them  now,  they  ever  last, 

In  earth  and  heaven  they  still  may  be  ; 
They  live  with  us  when  death  is  past, 

These  pearls  of  love  from  out  the  sea  ! 


THE    PEBBLES    ON    THE    BEACH. 


The  pebbles  round  the  ocean  deep, 
Which  every  wave  doth  wear. 

H^arren  Sumner  Barloia. 

THE  pebbles  on  the  beach, 
So  common  and  so  free, 
Can  largest  wisdom  teach, 

To  you,  my  friend,  and  me  : 
They  seem  of  small  esteem, 
As  dash  the  waves  ashore, 
As  they  in  sunshine  gleam, 
And  far  the  sea  doth  roar. 

And  so  in  ancient  days, 

The  lilies  little  were, 
Till  Jesus  spoke  their  praise, 

And  made  them  ever  fair  ; 
The  grass  that  clothes  the  hill, 

The  rivers  in  the  dale, 
Are  preaching  to  us  still 

The  same  sweet  loving  tale. 

And  pebbles  on  the  beach, 

So  pretty  in  their  hue, 
Their  tiny  hands  outreach, 

To  strengthen  me  and  you  ; 
For  God  hath  made  all  good, 

The  very  dust  and  stones  ; 
And  all  if  understood, 

His  perfect  blessing  owns  ! 

And  from  the  ocean  wide 

Of  His  abounding  love, 
Flows  in  the  music  tide 

To  bear  our  souls  above  ; 
For  nought  to  Him  is  waste, 

And  nought  is  cast  away ; 
All  of  His  goodness  taste, 

And  bask  in  endless  dayl 

149 


THE   TWO   DEEPS. 

How  calm  and  clear 
The  silent  air ! 
How  smooth  and  still  the  glassy  oct:an ! 

J.  G.  Percival. 

O  thou  bounding,  burning  river, 
Hurrying  heart  ! — I  seem 
To  know  ( so  one  knows  in  a  dream  ) 
That  in  the  waiting  heart  of  God  forever, 
Thou  too  shall  find  the  sea. 

Elizabeth  Stuart  Phelps. 

TWO  deeps  there  are  that  win  my  soul, 
And  make  me  wondrous  calm  and  blest  — 
One  where  the  mighty  billows  roll, 

One  where  the  rain-clouds  float  or  rest. 
The  sea,  so  stra»ige,  so  strong,  so  lone, 

The  sky,  so  fathomless,  so  far  — 
These  to  my  soul  as  signs  are  known, 
And  these,  great  inspirations  are  ! 

I  take  the  wing  of  wild  sea-bird, 

And  breast  the  storm,  outstrip  the  winds, 
And  soar  o'er  wave  that  man  ne'er  heard, 

And  human  daring  never  finds. 
For,  spite  of  sail  of  all  the  ships, 

The  sea  has  lands  and  realms  unknown, 
And  like  a  bird  my  free  soul  slips 

To  regions  fair  it  calls  its  own. 

I  pray  the  strength  of  eagle  strong, 

And  pierce  the  gates  of  morning  sky, 
And  sing  like  lark  a  cheering  song, 

Because  I  soar  so  free  and  high. 
I  visit  realms  of  gold  and  pearl, 

I  see  the  rays  before  they  pale, 
I  see  the  glorious  clouds  unfurl, 

And  in  the  open  heaven  I  sail ! 

'Tis  freedom  such  as  I  desire, 

To  know  these  depths  of  life  profound, 
To  know  that  when  I  must  expire 

The  sky  shall  ope,  the  sea  shall  sound. 
It  gives  me  sense  of  angel  life, 

This  searchless  sea,  this  boundless  dome, 
And  promise  fair  of  peace  thro'  strife, 

Thro'  darksome  death  my  perfect  Home 


THE    STORMY   SEA. 


Down  on  the  shore,  on  the  stormy  shore  ! 

Beset  by  a  growling  sea, 
Whose  mad  waves  leap  on  the  rocky  steep, 

Like  wolves  up  a  traveller's  tree. 

IV ill iati i  AUingkam, 

TOSS  and  tumble,  tumble,  tumble, 
Growl  and  grumble,  grumble,  grumble, 

Ever  noisy,  stormy  sea  ! 
Moan  with  s;id,  incessant  moaning, 
Groan  with  long  and  ghost-like  groaning, 

Where  thy  waters  scatter  free  ! 
Storms  upon  thy  bnsom  sailing, 

Far  from  land  and  feeble  men, 
Give  thy  shore  this  loud  bewailing, 
Give  its  booming  roar  and  railing, 

Till  there's  peace  and  calm  again  ! 

Heavy  rains  have  come  across  thee,  • 

Come  to  us,  O  mighty  sea, 
Wind  and  rain  and  billows  toss  thee, 

Though  in  anger  thou  may'st  be. 
Now  the  mists  enshroud  thy  shore, 
Where  the  snow-capped  breakers  roar, 

Like  a  million  lions  raging  ! 
O  thy  grand  and  solemn  sweep, 
Makes  me  tremble,  mighty  deep, 

All  my  soul  with  awe  engaging  ! 
Tumble,  tumble,  then  and  grumble, 
Roll  along  thy  shores  and  rumble 
This  mighty  truth 
To  age  and  youth ; — 
Nature  's  great  and  man  is  humble  ! 


BEFORE  A    STORM. 


HOW  very  close,  oppressive,  dull,  and  drear, 
The  day  has  turned,  a  storm  is  nigh  at  hand, 

The  hills  as  doomed  and  darkened  prisoners  stand, 
And  all  the  world  is  hushed  as  though  in  fear ; 
And  hark !  the  distant  peals  are  drawing  near, 

To  cannonade  our  ears  with  war-cries  grand, 

As  He,  the  Mighty  Kingj  shall  best  command, 
That  shall  proclaim  Him  monarch  of  the  year  ! 
Now  comes  the  breeze,  refreshing  like  the  rain, 

Thai  in  grear  drops  descends  from  out  the  ,-kv. 
It  seems  as  though  we  had  the  curse  of  Cain, 

And  Heaven  did  say,  "  Prepare  sad  souls  to  die ;  " 
But  faith  amid  the  storm  her  way  can  see, 
And  knows  that  life,  not  death,  is  His  decree ! 


IN    A   THUNDER-STORM. 

HOW  sinks  my  soul  with  dread  at  this  dark  hour, 
As  close  the  skies  in  clay  with  pall  of  night, 

As  break  from  clouds  the  dashing  rain  and  light, 
And  thunders  boom  with  crash  and  long-drawn  power ! 
O,  like  a  laboring  ship  in  storm  I  cower, 

A  straw  I  seem,  and  filled  with  grevious  fright, 

A  sad  and  sorry  man  disrobed  of  might, 
So  little  seem  I  in  this  thunder-shower ! 
Let  me  not  die  in  such  a  time,  I  pray, 

But  let  the  sun  smile  light  and  earth  her  love, 
And  let  it  be  a  calm  and  soothing  day, 

Whereon  I  seek  the  calm  of  life  above; 
Let  God  and  nature  be  my  friend  at  last, 
And  all  be  free  from  raging  storm  and  blast  1 


A    RAIN-STORM. 


LO  !  sweeps  the  tempest  over  hill  and  dale, 
The  dark  grey  clouds  sweep  round  the  mountain's  brow, 

The  distant  storm  is  hurrying  to  us  now, 
And  lo !  its  music  comes  in  gust  and  gale, 
And  mutterings  swell  the  breeze  like  sea's  sad  wail, 

And  .murmur  like  a  thousand  footsteps  :   how 

Descend  the  pelting  drops — so  strong  I  trow 
A  second  flood  will  tell  its  awful  tale  1 
And  yet  a  little  while  and  all  is  o'er, 

While  streams  and  pools  adown  the  road  are  spread, 
The  trees  the  glittering  drops  to  earth  restore, 

And  all  the  fields  a  new-born  gladness  shed; — 
For  Nature  smiles  what  time  is  spent  and  past 
The  angry  storm  that  rode  upon  the  blast ! 


AFTER   A    STORM, 


REFRESHING  is  the  air  from  off  the  hills 
And  all  the  land  is  now  as  though  new-born, 

The  afternoon  is  like  the  cooling  morn, 
And  with  strong  manhood  all  my  bosom  fills ; 
O,  how  my  being  with  emotion  thrills 

To  think  that  God  by  storms  can  so  adorn, 

And  drive  away  the  sickly,  sad,  and  lorn, 
By  that  which  He  in  seeming  variance  wills. 
Now  all  the  fields  and  forests  far  rejoice, 

The  parching  grain  is  fed  by  rains  from  Heaven, 
And  Nature's  thanks,  with  dear  melodious  voice, 

To  God,  the  blessed  giver,  now  are  given ; 
And  I,  that  see  the  wonders  in  amaze, 
Would  not  withhold  my  humble  meed  of  pr;i 


153 


AFTER   RAIX. 

AFTER  rain  will  come  the  flowers, 
Forming  Summer's  fairy  bowers 
After  rain  the  birds  will  sing, 
Flying  round  on  blithesome  wing ; 
After  rain  the  fields  be  gay, 
Shining  in  the  light  of  day; 
After  rain  the  sun  seems  bright, 
With  a  more  benignant  light : 
Who  can  tell  what  we  shall  gain, 
After  rain —  the  sweet  Spring  rain? 

After  rain  the  air  is  clear, 
Happy  music  meets  the  ear  ; 
After  rain  the  skies  seem  far, 
Deep  for  sun,  or  moon,  or  star  ; 
After  rain  we  find  it  sweet 
In  the  forests'  fair  retreat ; 
After  rain  our  hearts  rejoice, 
Chorusing  with  nature's  voice  ; 
Purest  pleasure  we  maintain, 
After  rain  —  the  Summer  rain  1 

After  rain  the  rose-leaves  lie 
Scattered  round  as  we  go  by ; 
After  rain  its  pearl-drops  shine 
With  a  gleam  and  glance  divine; 
After  rain  the  rivers  roll 
On  —  and  onward  like  the  soul ; 
After  rain  the  earth  looks  bare, 
Yet  with  something  sweet  and  rare  ; 
None  should  think  to  find  complain 
After  rain —  the  Autumn  rain! 

After  rain  of  scalding  tears, 
After  trial,  loss,  and  fears ; 
After  failure  we  must  know, 
Blessed  peace  from  all  shall  flow  ; 
We  shall  see  a  world  made  bright, 
Filled  with  pure  and  gladsome  light ; 
We  shall  find  that  God  was  good, 
All  our  need  well  understood ; 
We  shall  find  an  end  to  pain, 
After  rail)  —  life's  Winter  rain  ! 


THE   WIND. 

I  LOVE  the  wind,  it  is  s*o  brave  and  free  ; 
It  scorns  restrictions  set  by  feeble  men  ; 

It  knows  no  law  to  keep  that  we  may  plan, 
But  rolls  around  the  earth  as  doth  the  sea. 
Lo !  all  the  woods  in  joyance  with  it  be, 

And  their  embracings  gladly  to  it  ran  — 

They  love  it  firm  as  only  freedom  can, 
And  bend  and  sway  in  it  with  joyous  glee. 
O  swifter,  stronger  than  the  eagle  old, 

And  like  the  circling  skies  for  length  of  days, 
Still  roll  ye  winds  in  grandeur  free  and  bold, 

And  teach  us  love  for  Nature's  wondrous  ways  : 
Your  spirit  never  yet  by  bard  was  told, 

Your  music  ne'er  like  his  with  time  decays. 


WERE   I   A   CLOUD. 


OTHAT  I  were  a  sweet,  translucent  cloud, 
To  float  within  the  full,  far  summer  sky, 

And  watch  the  world  with  love's  benignant  eye, 
And  see  its  glories  grand,  and  gay,  and  proud  ; 
It  were  so  fair  to  be  so  high  endowed, 

And  lik'e  a  bird  on  tireless  wing  to  fly, 

Seeing  the  green  earth  pass  in  vision  by, 
And  all  the  busy  nations  'neath  me  crowd, 
Then  I  might  joy  without  the  least  regret, 

And  view  the  whole  in  wise  and  gracious  mood, 
But  now  can  I  the  woes  of  man  forget, 

That  are  from  lack  of  culture,  thought,  and  food  ? 
Yet  there  I  might  with  nature's  calm  survey 
The  coming  of  a  bright  and  perfect  day ! 


THE    EARTH   IS    GOOD. 


And  sweet  is  all  the  land  about,  and  all  the  flowers  that  blow. 

Tennyson 

Pleasant  the  sun  spreads 

His  orient  beams  on  herb,  tree,  forest  and  flower, 
Glistering  with  dew ;  fragrant  the  fertile  earth. 

Miltou. 

I  SMELT  the  sweet  fresh  clover-breath, 
I  smelt  the  scent  of  new-mown  hay, 
I  smelt  the  rose  that  knew  no  death,  . 

And  flowers  that  grew  in  gladness  gay  ; 
And  earth  was  green  in  field  and  wood, 
The  beauteous  earth  was  sweet  and  good  ! 

I  saw  the  golden  sunshine  bright, 

And  grass  that  spread  a  carpet  green ; 
I  saw  the  willows  wave  in  light, 

And  shrubs  and  trees  enrich  the  scene  ; 
The  earth  in  gorgeous  beauty  stood, 
This  grand  old  earth  was  great  and  good  £ 

I  heard  the  birds  >in  chorus  sing, 

And  waters  babble  forth  their  lay; 
The  flutter  swift  and  whirr  of  wing, 

And  insects  buzz  and  fill  the  day ; 
The  earth  was  bathed  in  music's  flood, 
This  time-blest  earth  was  gay  and  good  f 

I  stood  and  breathed,  and  saw,  and  heard, 

Till  heaven  was  near  as  Heaven  could  be, 
An  angel  heart  within  me  stirred, 
And  God's  sweet  comfort  came  to  me  ; 
The  earth  with  Heaven  hath  brotherhood ; 
Our  sun-crowned  earth  is  bright  and  good  \ 


GOD    IS    LOVE. 

I!V    NKI.J.IK    STMNKK    liKr.NToN. 

Earth,  with  her  thousand  voices,  praises  God. 

Coleridge. 
These  are  thy  glorious  works,  Parent  of  good  ; 

.      .      .      .    these  declare 

Thy  goodness  beyond  thought,  and  power  divine. 

Milton. 

)r  I  ""  IS  whispered  in  the  morning, 
JL       When  the  first  bright  peep  of  day 

Looks  down  upon  the  dew-drops, 
That  sparkle  bright  and  gay ; 

'T  is  whispered  then  from  sky  above, 

That  God  is  good  —  that  God  is  love  ! 

'T  is  whispered  from  the  noontide, 

That  comes  in  glorious  beams, 
And  shines  on  hill  and  valley, 

On  golden  lakes  and  streams ; 
'Tis  whispered  then  where'er  we  rove, 
That  God  is  light,  and  peace,  and  love  ! 

'T  is  whispered  in  the  evening, 

As  sinks  the  sun  to  rest; 
'T  is  whispered  in  his  glowing  — 

His  bright  and  burnished  crest ; 
'T  is  whispered  then  from  grove  to  grove, 
That  God  is  beauty,  bliss  and  love  ! 

'T  is  whispered  clay  and  darkness, 

And  ever  't  is  the  same  — 
The  same  kind  word  of  comfort, 

And  tells  the  Father's  name  ; 
'T  is  whispered  sweet,  as  by  a  dove, 
That  God  is  good  —  that  God  is  love! 


'57 


FROM    THE    HILLS    OF    VERMONT. 


Tuneful  silence  — tender  beauty  ! 

Moss  and  fern  and  fragrant  wood, 
Lonely  bird  and  bird-like  gurgle 

Of  the  ever-gliding  flood !  H.    W.  P. 

A  WAV"  from  Boston's  busy  toil  and  hum, 
To  these  calm  hills  for  rest  and  health  I  come ; 
Here  Nature  reigns  in  royalty's  repose, 
Through  summer  heat  and  all  the  winter  snows  ; — 
Here  rural  sounds  from  wood  and  stream  ascend, 
While  silence  sweet  in  harmony  doth  blend; 
Here  blow  the  winds  with  p.iradisal  breath, 
That  say  "Depart,  ye  glooms  of  darkling  death!  " 
Here  smiles  the  sky  in  every  hue  arrayed, 
Bright  belts  of  light  and  isles  of  deepest  shade  ; 
Where'er  I  look,  around,  beneath,  above, 
My  heart  rejoices  in  the  wealth  of  love  ! 

O  man,  how  rich  to  leave  thy  little  strife, 

And  study  Nature's  old  Arcadian  life  ; 

How  sweet  to  steal  from  modern  man-made  care, 

And  know  the  peace  these  hills  and  valleys  share  ; 

No  hurrying  here  in  any  petty  task, 

No  seeking  such  vain  shows  as  worldlings  ask, 

Shut  up  in  walls,  man  deems  himself  divine, 

But  'neath  this  sky  his  vanities  decline ; 

His  greatness  takes  the  earth's  great  even  tone, 

And  truly  stand  his  worth  and  favor  known ! 

And  yet  where'er  I  look,  my  heart  doth  prove 

The  bliss  and  power  of  Mother  Nature's  love  ! 

Our  planet  evenly  provides  for  all, 
And  cares  alike  for  hers,  or  great  or  small : 
No  favored  race,  no  chosen,  is  her  choice, 
With  tender  tones  thus  speaks  her  loving  voice  : 
'•Let  each  enjoy  the  stretch  of  land  and  sky  ! " 
"  I  do  enjoy !  "  —  returns  in  sweet  reply. 

158 


Away,  false  creeds  that  contradict  this  truth  ! 
A\\av,  that  we  may  study  Nature's  youth! 
Let  mind  and  heart  this  golden  realm  sur\< 
And  all  that's  false  before  her  light  give  way  ! 
Thus  may  we  live  our  days  in  pleasure  here, 
Till  heavenly  joys  'mid  common  tasks  appear  1 

For  change  of  place  we  foolishly  do  pray, 
Supposing  Heaven  is  found  in  this  wild  way; 
Unknowing  that  the  heart  contains  the  spell, 
Transforming  earth  to  heaven  and  heaven  to  hell  ! 
Our  earth  is  good,  and  all  our  natures  need, 
Our  only  want,  high  thought  and  noble  deed  ! 
Our  failing  still,  the  eye  that  will  hot  see, 
The  mind  so  dull  it  will  not  royal  be  : 
But  times  must  change,  the  sun  of  wisdom  rise, 
And  all  the  world  be  arched  with  summer  skies ; 
For  turn  where'er  I  will  my  heart  doth  prove 
The  world  was  made  and  moves  in  perfect  love  ! 


THE    SILENT    HILLS. 


THE  hills  around  are  silent  evermore, 
In  holy  calm  they  rest  beneath  day's  smile, 

And  night  has  silence  deep,  and  darkness,  while 
We  seem  to  stand  on  death's  deep,  silent  shore ! 
In  held  some  voice  will  shout  or  song  outpour, 

And  echo  speak  in  olden  mystic  style, 

But  soon  they  sink  in  space,  as  some  small  isle 
That  rising  ocean  spreads  her  waters  o'er. 
No  sound  can  be,  for  calm  is  like  the  sky  ; 

The  depth  of  blue  is  calm ;  the  woods  are  calm  ; 
The  mind  is  hushed  and  silent  as  the  eye, 

Yet  finds  in  this  pure  bliss  and  healing  balm; 
My  soul  was  sick  to  death  with  noise  and  jar, 
But  here  I  visit  home  from  fields  of  war  ! 


159 


GOD'S    CARE. 


In  the  flower-enamelled  sod, — 
How  beautifully  exampled 
Is  the  providence  of  God  !  A  lice  Gary. 

Will  he  who  clothes  the  grass  which  is  to-day, 
While  all  its  beauty  quickly  fades  away, 
Forget  His  image  —  His  immortal  child  ? 

Warren  Sumner  Barlow. 

IF  GOD  so  clothe  the  grass  of  fields  we  see, 
And  multiplies  its  wants  to  give  supply  ; 
If  God  so  give  it  bloom  anon  to  die, 

0  what  will  He  not  do  for  you  and  me  ? 
Will  not  His  care  abundant  shelter  be  ? — 

And  all  be  ours  we  hope  for  bye-and-bye  ? 
Such  prophecies  as  these  can  never  lie  ; 
And  grace  will  come  to  all  in  largess  free  ! 

1  pick  the  common  flower  that  decks  the  field, 

As  promise  of  the  Father  good  and  wise  ; 
I  take  it  as  my  hope,  my  stay,  my  shield, 

A  witness  to  my  mansions  in  the  skies  : 
If  God  so  clothe  the  fair,  yet  fading  grass, 
Immortal  good  to  us  shall  come  to  pass  ! 


A  LESSON   FROM    THE   TREES. 

BEHOLD  the  trees  in  forests  spread  afar, 
The  hills  and  dales  are  crowned  with  their  fresh  green, 

In  all  the  earth  their  beauty  fair  is  seen; 
No  climate  can  their  peaceful  spreading  bar, — 
They  flourish  like  the  conqueror  in  war, 

And  grow  with  rich  and  glorious  glowing  mien, 

And  bear  their  fruit  at  harvest  hour,  I  ween, 
As  true  and  constant  as  the  Northern  star  ! 
So  might  we  grow  and  bear  our  fruit  for  good, 

So  spread  in  peaceful  light  upon  the  earth, 
So  band  ourselves  in  forest  brotherhood; 

So  bend  in  music,  flourish  fair  in  mirth, 
So  spend  a  life  of  sweet  content  and  praise, 
And  keep  a  happy  count  of  all  our  days  1 

160 


THE   CLOVER-BLOSSOM. 


Every  bush  has  a  blossom,  a  bee,  or  a  bird, 
A  beauty  to  blow  or  a  hum  to  be  heard. 

Benj.  F.  Taylor. 

eless  lips,  O  flowers  !  are  living  preachers; 
Each  cup  a  pulpit,  every  leaf  a  book. 

Horace  S»iith~ 

THIS  noon,  reclined  upon  the  grass  I  lay 
In  happy  mood,  for  all  the  land  was  bright, 

Beneath  a  shade  I  lay  and  saw  the  light 
Make  sweet  the  fields  and  all  the  landscape  gay; 
The  cooling  breezes  friendly-like  did  stray, 

And  fanned  me  with  touch  like  fingers  white, 

And  I  was  pleased  with  Nature's  love  and  might, 
And  thought  't  was  good  to  live  on  such  a  day. 
But  careless-like  I  plucked  the  blades  around, 

When  close  at  hand  I  saw  a  clover-flower, 
And  reached  to  take  it  from  its  resting-ground 

And  scatter  it  with  foolish  wasted  power, 
When  quick  there  came  a  bee  and  took  its  sweet, 
And  I  in  wonder  let  it  rest  complete  ! 


ROSES, 

O  ROSES,  roses,  summer  roses  sweet, 
Such  beauty,  wealth,  and  perfume  rare  are  yours, 

Such  lovely  mystery  your  life  secures, 
That  love  could  choose  no  other  dwelling  meet  1 
With  raptured  heart  I  gaze  on  you  and  greet ; 

I  think  of  our  poor  world  by  you  made  blest  ; 

I  think  of  how  our  tired  eyes  have  rest 
As  they  drink  in  your  beauty  so  complete. 
O  let  the  foolish  rail  and  curse  their  day, 

And  deem  the  earth  a  place  of  evil  dire, 
My  heart  awakes  to  joy  like  gentle  May, 

And  with  true-love's  delight  is  all  afire, 
As  thus  I  gaze  and  dream  and  muse  o'er  you, 
So  wondrous  sweet,  at  once  so  old  and  new  ! 


161 


WATER-LILIES. 


Have  you  seen  but  a  bright  lily  grow, 
Before  rude  hands  have  touch'd  it  ? 

Ben  y 

FROM  lilies  of  the  field  in  Holy  Land, 
The  Teacher  drew  a  lesson  of   God's  care  ; 

And  not  less  rich  in  light  are  these  so  fair, 
These  water-lilies  now  within  my  hand ; 
They  grew  from  depths  of  mire  to  lilies  grand, 

And  spread  upon  the  lake  with  beauty  rare, 

And  sunned  themselves  in  God's  sweet  light  and  air, 
Till  they  as 'emblems  sweet  our  love  command. 
And  may  not  we,  the  seed  of  time  and  tide, 

Thus  rise  from  earth  and  rich  in  beauty  grow, 
And  on  life's  wave,  like  these  fair  lilies,  ride, 

While  gracious  emanations  outward  flow  ? 
O  preach  the  upward  life,  ye  lilies  sweet, 
And  thus  your  gospel  word  from  God  repeat ! 


WEEDS. 

To  me  the  meanest  flower  that  blows  can  give 
Thoughts  that  do  often  lie  too  deep  for  tears. 

Wordsworth. 

THE  common  weeds  beside  the  dusty  way 
Have  colors  beautiful,  and  bright,  and  gay, 
And  form,  in  sooth  to  me,  a  fine  array, 
As  sweet  I  passed  them  by  in  love  to-day, 
And  blessed  their  richness  filling  all  the  air ; 
I  blessed  their  hues,  and  God  who  made  them  fair  ; 
I  blessed  his  liberal  love  that  placed  them  there  ; 
I  blessed  his  kindness  and  his  wondrous  care  ! 
Beside  our  roadside  way,  through  all  our  life, 
Abound  these  weed-like  joys  to  comfort  strife, 
And  things  of  no  esteem  to  us  at  first, 
Yea,  things  our  darkling  folly  foolish  curst, 
All  these  are  good  and  have  their  flowers  and  sweets, 
For  thus  the  great,  good  God  our  life  completes ! 


162 


THE    SNOW. 


O  PRECIOUS  whiteness,  now  fast  falling  down, 
Thy  flakes  fill  all  the  air  with  winter's  glee, 
And  give  to  earth  a  garment  and  a  crown, 

Till  all  things  beautiful  thus  robed  we  see  ! 
Now  silent  stands  the  busy,  beating  town, 

And  noisy  feet  no  longer  noisy  be  — 
For  in  thy  presence,  hushed  is  our  renown, 

And  we  in  wonder  wait  thy  wise  decree. 
Earth  now  bends  down  a  fond  and  listening  ear, 

And  love  and  truth  thro'  this  vast  silence  speak; 
In  thee  the  soul  as  soul  doth  sweet  appear, 

And  flesh  as  flesh  but  poor,  and  vain,  and  weak : 
Like  thee  we  come  in  loving  silence  here ; 
Like  thee  ascend  to  sunlight  regions  clear  ! 


THE    RAINBOW    AT   NIGHT. 


A  SCENE  of  wondrous  beauty  met  my  sight, 
In  childish  lore  I  never  thought  to  see, 
And  it  has  filled  my  heart  with  bounding  glee: 

The  rainbow  beaming  in  the  solemn  night. 

The  moon  was  up  and  shed  her  brilliant  light, 
The  rain  came  down,  and  in  the  west  full  free 
The  rainbow  shone,  an  angel  hope  to  me  — 

The  golden  arch  of  promise,  peace,  and  right. 

In  mighty  falls  the  spray  is  nobly  arched, 

In  tempest  gleams  of  light  the  darkness  span, 
And  thus  in  night  the  rainbow  visits  man, 

And  he  to  glory  on  that  bridge  has  marched ; 

God  gives  us  signs  like  this  of  his  high  love, 

And  o'er  the  storm  his  goodness  beams  above. 


THE    DAY'S    REPOSE. 

f  I  "*HE  happy  day  has  gone  to  rest, 

JL       Lulled  by  the  soothing  twilight  dimi; 
The  night  his  lips  with  kisses  prest, 

And  sung  a  mother's  murmuring  hymn. 
How  glad  he  seemed  to  sink  to  sleep, 

For  joy  he  crimsoned  all  the  sky, 
Then  dropped  his  head  in  slumber  deep,. 

At  night's  enchanting  lullaby  ! 

•    Oh,  like  a  wayward  child  he  went, 

And  sought  beyond  the  hills  repose ; 
His  strength  in  merriment  was  spent, 

And  wearied  eyes  began  to  close. 
And  Lady  Night,  with  mother  care, 

Came  near  to  give  her  comfort  calm  ; 
She  whispered  "  Peace  "  through  all  the  airv 

And  ended  day's  delightful  psalm. 

She  darkened  all  the  chamber  vast, 

Yet  hung  the  dome  with  lamps  sublime, 
Till  fairy-land  in  dreams  was  past, 

And  dawn  should  sing,  "  'Tis  waking  time. 
Oh,  holy,  fond,  entrancing  scene, 

To  see  the  wondrous  world  in  rest ; 
And  rapture  sweet  on  strength  to  lean, 

That  makes  the  very  darkness  blest ! 

EVENING. 

*  I  ''HE  numbered  hours  of  rosy  day  are  done, 
JL      The  sun  has  slowly  rounded  to  the  west, 

The  varied  dyes  of  heaven  proclaim  his  rest, 
And  tell  us  that  his  goal  again  is  won  : 
Afar  the  shades  of  night  are  growing  dun, 

And  gracious  stars  arise  with  silver  crest, 

And  God's  good  providence  in  love  attest, 
That  else  our  foolish  fear  would  seek  to  shun. 
Now  Nature  opes  to  us  the  realms  of  sleep, 

And  strews  with  lotus-leaves  its  pathway  kind, 
Till  we  are  lost  in  fairy  regions  deep, 

That  bless  the  seeming  loss  of  life  and  mind; 
So  age  may  come,  the  even  of  life's  day, 
Yet  so  shall  stars  and  dreams  attend  our  way ! 
164 


I    THOUGHT    I    RODE   AMID    THE    CLOUDS. 

I  THOUGHT  I  rode  amid  the  clouds 
That  gather  round  the  beaming  moon, 
I, ike  sailors  in  the  topmost  shrouds, 

Whose  souls  require  some  precious  boon, 
Whose  eyes  are  turned  on  every  hand, 
To  spy  some  near  and  pleasant  land. 

The  stars  like  soldiers  on  their  round, 
Or  clustering  fire-Hies  gleaming  bright, 

l)i(l  all  the  vast  horizon  bound, 
And  fill  my  soul  with  fond  delight, 

And  set  me  free  from  earthly  care, 

That  I  might  bask  with  joyance  there. 

My  spirit  flew  to  kiss  the  sod, 

Like  health  returning  to  her  home, 
And  there  with  reverence  sought  for  God, 

But  all  in  vain  far-off  to  roam, 
lie  hides  behind  the  depths  of  space, 
And  yet  to  all  gives  life  and  grace  I 

The  earth  I  vainly  pine  to  leave, 

Above  the  skies  is  but  a  star, 
And  God  below  doth  beauties  weave 

As  fair  as  those  that  shine  afar ! 
I  feel  it  true,  and  yet  a  prayer 
Doth  rise,  to  see  and  bless  Him  there  ! 

And  so  I  cease  to  prize  the  earth, 

And  note  the  signs  of  skill  and  love, 
And  deem  that  death  and  angel-birth 

Will  waft  to  regions  fair  above, 
Where  [  shall  see,  and  hear,  and  know 
Far  more  than  I  can  dream  below  ! 

I  thought  I  rode  amid  the  clouds, 
The  beauteous  clouds  of  summer  night, 

But  even  there  our  God  enshrouds 
His  awful  face  in  depths  of  light ; 
And  all  my  hope  may  here  as  there, 

Bloom  out  in  service  true  and  fair  ! 


THE    STARS. 


The  sun  in  an  ebbing  ocean  of  light 
Is  anchored,  to  wait  for  the  evening  star. 

A  manda  T.  Jones. 

LO!  here  I  sit  and  watch  the  day  decline, 
The  sun  goes  down  and  paints  the  west  with  gold, 

And  pale  blue  mists  the  darkening  hills  enfold, 
And  night  descends  in  beauty  slow  and  fine; 
And  then  the  stars  in  mellow  sweetness  shine,  ' 

One  in  the  west  and  one  in  depths  untold, 

And  then  the  whole  array  is  bright  unrolled, 
And  there  they  burn  and  blaze  with  light  divine  ! 
I  marvel  much  at  this,  and  much  admire, 

And  much  within  my  soul  instinctive  say, 
For  worship,  love,  and  faith,  flash  out  like  fire, 

To  see  our  God  this  world  in  light  array  ; 
To  see  His  kindness  never,  never  tire, — 

His  stars  are  ours  by  night,  His  sun  by  day ! 

Full  well  might  mortals  bless  the  shining  stars 
That  come  and  fill  by  night  our  darksome  sky, 
Like  radiant  gems  we  see  them  sparkling  lie, 

With  varied  sheen,  like  soldiers  from  the  wars : 

There  shine  the  planets,  Venus,  Jove,  and  Mars, 
And  all  have  beauty  for  the  seeing  eye, 
And  all  can  some  great  good  to  man  supply, 

For  lo  !  their  light  the  gate  of  Heaven  unbars  ! 

We  are  not  closed  in  this  our  earthly  round, 

These  other  worlds  are  ours,  we  know  full  well ; 

In  you,  O  stars,  our  soul  her  rest  hath  found, 

And  there,  through  endless  future,  we  may  dwell ; 

And  so  my  heart  with  joy  doth  child-like  bound, 
As  night  by  night  the  stars  this  story  tell  1 


16 


THE    MOON. 

The  sweet  moon  rules  the  east  to-night, 

To  show  the  sun  sh<>,  too,  can  shine  — 
From  his  forsaken  cell  of  night 

She  builds  herself  a  jewelled  shrine. 

Julia  Ward  Howe. 

THE  full,  orbed  moon  in  splendor  rules  the  night, 
The  vast  expanse  of  blue  retreats  around, 

While  far  the  silver  serving  stars  are  found, 
And  these  with  grace  have  made  the  darkness  light, 
And  silence  sweet  rejoices  at  the  sight, 

And  tells  with  hallowedness,  'tis  charmed  ground, 

As  erst  when  fairy  sprites  did  once  abound, 
For  here  there  is  nor  toil,  nor  want,  nor  blight. 
God  gives  us  scenes  like  this,  to  show  how  pure, 

In  futures  vast  our  lengthened  life  will  be, 
And  how  we  may  this  glorious  gift  secure, 

And  have  our  present  lot  from  darkness  free  ; 
The  moon  that  fills  the  night  with  glowing  grace, 
Shows  faithful  souls  that  beautify  their  place  ! 

We  cannot  think  the  moon  a  fleeting  show, 
When  she  at  full  in  this  glad  guise  appears, 
She  moves  in  golden  grandeur  mid  the  spheres, 

The  stars  with  paling  presence  round  her  glow, 

And  their  superior  greatness  hardly  know  ; 
Her  nearer  light  to  us  herself  endears, 
And  makes  us  quite  forget  her  younger  years, 

And  how  this  higher  praise  we  do  not  owe  ! 

Behold  her  borrowed  beams  that  shine  so  bright, 
Will  wane  anon,  then  wax  and  wane  again ; 

The  sun  is  still  the  source  of  her  proud  light, 
As  God  is  still  the  source  of  light  in  men, 

And  though  their  beams  may  dazzle  foolish  eyes, 

The  moon  the  truth  shall  tell  from  yonder  skies ! 


167 


NIGHT. 


Now  in  the  field  of  sunset,  Twilight  gray, 
Sad  for  the  dying  day, 

With  wisps  of  shadow  binds  the  sheaves  of  gold, 
And  Night  comes  shepherding  his  starry  fold 
Along  the  fringed  bottom  of  the  sky. 

Alice   Cary. 

THE  day  declines 
In  yonder  sky, 
The  sweet  moon  shines 

With  light  on  high. 
Thus  may  the  light 
Of  love  sincere, 
Dispel  from  night 
The  shadows  drear  ! 

The  twinkling  stars 

Are  burning  bright, 
In  golden  bars, 

A  stream  of  light. 
Thus  may  true  friends 

Bedeck  life's  sky, 
With  sweet  amends 

For  day  gone  by ! 

Peace,  peace  around 

In  earth  and  air ; 
Hushed,  hushed  each  sound 

Of  toil  and  care. 
Thus  may  sweet  rest 

Subdue  sad  strife, 
Make  darkness  blest 

For  coming  life  1 

The  night  departs 

In  rising  day, 
The  morn  upstarts 

In  rich  array. 
Thus  may  Life's  night 

Emerge  from  gloom, 
To  heavenly  light  — 

Immortal  bloom ! 

168 


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